A 24-year-old man from Savage was indicted in federal court in connection with the distribution of ecstasy.

Khanh Hung Tuan Le, along with 27-year-old Nghia Quang Dang of Belle Plaine, Tin Quang Dang, 20, of Denver, Colo., and 27-year-old Bao Thoa Pham of Calgary, Canada were charged Aug. 19 in Minneapolis each on one count of conspiracy to distribute the semisynthetic psychedelic drug MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.

According to the United States Department of Justice, their indictment alleges on Aug. 12, they knowingly conspired with each other and others to distribute approximately 150,000 tablets (27,500 grams) of a substance containing a detectable amount of MDMA.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, the investigation began in July 2008 after authorities learned that Nghia Dang received a shipment of approximately 150,000 pills of ecstasy. Law enforcement arranged a “controlled purchase” of 100,000 pills on Aug. 12 at a Bloomington restaurant parking lot.

Dang arrived with his brother, Tin Dang, Le and Pham, who were all arrested. During an executed search warrant at Nghia Dang’s residence, officers recovered an additional 50,000 ecstasy pills.

If convicted, all four men face a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Dakota County Drug Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christian S. Wilton.