Transcript Staff Writer

An Oklahoma City man, originally charged with unlawful trafficking in illegal drugs after being arrested for allegedly transporting several thousand Ecstasy tablets, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison with all but five years suspended.

John Van Tran, 24, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of possession with intent to distribute. District Judge Bill Hetherington pronounced the sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Rick Sitzman said prosecutors agreed to a one-year judicial review.

"At that time, the sentence could be modified," Sitzman said. "If he does anything extraordinary, the judge might modify the sentence."

Tran was represented by Oklahoma City defense attorney John Coyle.

Tran was arrested March 30, 2007, after being stopped by a Norman police detective. The arresting detective said Tran was traveling northbound on Interstate 35 at 77 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone. The detective ran "Lux," a state-certified drug dog, around Tran's vehicle and said Lux "alerted" to the driver's side of the vehicle. A search turned up several thousand Ecstasy tablets in heat-sealed bags, police said. Ecstasy, or MDMA, is a high-powered stimulant with hallucinogenic properties.

Felony charges filed Thursday include:

Daniel Christopher Green, 18, Moore, false declaration of ownership in a pawn; knowingly concealing stolen property;

Joshua Nicholas Stoker, 22, Oklahoma City, two counts of larceny from a house;

Katie Burton, 24, Chickasha, larceny of a controlled dangerous substance;

Wynona Ann Wilder, 48, Oklahoma City, two counts of knowingly concealing stolen property;

Floyd Eugene Robertson, 48, Ardmore, obtaining cash or merchandise by bogus check.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com