Gang member gets prison sentence racketeering charge

A member of a violent Utah gang was sentenced Thursday to serve eight years in federal prison for racketeering.

Phoukham Chanthavong appeared in U.S. District Court to be sentenced on the charge he admitted to in a plea deal with prosecutors.

In a statement of his guilt, Chanthavong admitted to taking part and supporting the Tiny Oriental Posse and to being an accessory after the fact with other gang members in the murder of a 15-year-old rival gang member in October 2004 in West Valley City.

Chanthavong is just one of 14 other TOP members who were indicted in 2006 on operating a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors say TOP members have been involved in an array of violent and illegal activities, such as home invasions, carjackings and drug trafficking.

All 15 men have plead guilty as part of plea deals. In addition to Chanthavong, four other men have received prison sentences ranging from 63 months to 18 months.