MADISON, WIS. – Federal, state, and local officials
announced that 16 people have been charged with drug crimes following a
long-term investigation of methamphetamine distribution in the Wausau,
Wisconsin area.
The charges were announced today by Scott C. Blader, United
States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin; Wisconsin Attorney
General Josh Kaul; Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon; FBI
Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes; Wausau Police Chief Benjamin Bliven;
Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks; and Lincoln County Sheriff Ken Schneider.
Twelve people have been charged in indictments returned by a
federal grand jury on September 19, 2019, as follows:
Lisa Xiong, 31,
Wausau, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, with three
counts of distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and with possessing
50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute;
Chong Chueneng
Moua, 51, St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with conspiring to distribute
methamphetamine, and with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with
intent to distribute;
Chou Xiong, 36,
Wausau, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, seven counts
of distributing 5 grams or more; and one count of distributing 50 grams or
more;
Soua Khang, 23,
Wausau, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, and three
counts of distributing methamphetamine;
Ya Yang, 31,
Wausau, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine;
John Gates, 49,
Hewitt, Wisconsin, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine,
and two counts of attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to
distribute;
Chai Thao, 34,
Wausau, is charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, with one
count alleged to involve 50 grams or more;
Sandy Vang, 49,
Wausau, is charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine, with two
counts alleged to involve 5 grams or more;
Ger Moua, 31,
Wausau, is charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine, with one
count alleged to involve 5 grams or more, and one count alleged to involve 50
grams or more; with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking
crime; and with being a felon in possession of a firearm;
Vang C. Yang, 26,
St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with two counts of distributing
methamphetamine;
Meng Xiong, 26,
Wausau, is charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, with one
count alleged to involve 5 grams or more; and
Dao Thao, 39, St.
Paul, Minnesota, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
with intent to distribute.
The
conspiracy is alleged to have operated from November 2018 to June 2019. The indictment alleges that the amount of
methamphetamine in the conspiracy attributable to the conduct of Lisa Xiong is
500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, and with respect to
defendant Chong Chueneng Moua, Soua Khang, and Chou Xiong, the amount of
methamphetamine attributable to their conduct is 50 grams or more of a mixture
containing methamphetamine.
If
convicted, Lisa Xiong faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a
maximum of life in federal prison. The
counts alleging 50 grams or more of methamphetamine carry a mandatory minimum
penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years is prison. The charges that allege the distribution of a
mixture of methamphetamine carry a maximum penalty of 20 years; the drug
charges that allege distribution of 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine
carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years. Ger Moua faces a mandatory minimum penalty of
five years on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime, which federal law mandates be served consecutive to any
other sentence imposed, and a maximum of 10 years on the felon in possession of
a firearm charge.
District
Attorney Wetzsteon announced that four people will face state charges in
Marathon County, as follows:
Kai Chang, 28,
Wausau, is charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine as a habitual
criminality repeater;
David
Castillo-Lopez, 30, Wausau, is charged with conspiracy to possess
methamphetamine as a habitual criminality repeater;
Mai Xiong, 32,
Wausau, is charged with delivery of methamphetamine (10 to 50 grams), as a
party to the crime, as a habitual criminality repeater; and;
Par Y. Her, 61,
Wausau, has been charged in Marathon County Case 19CF1033 with delivery of
methamphetamine (3 to 10 grams) and delivery of methamphetamine (10 to 50
grams), both as a habitual criminality repeater.
U.S.
Attorney Blader said, “As United States Attorney, I want to make it clear to
those who choose to distribute these dangerous drugs for profit - you are a
priority for law enforcement, and my office will work with our local, state,
and federal partners to prosecute you and send you to federal prison. Those who are pouring these substances into
Wisconsin from out of state should be on notice that we will use all resources
available to us, including the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, to
identify you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
The
charges announced today are the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin
Narcotics Task Force. The members of the
task force include the Marathon and Lincoln County Sheriffs’ Offices, Wausau
and Everest Metro Police Departments, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Drug
Enforcement Administration. In addition,
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the
investigation.
Assistant
U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper is handling the prosecution of those facing
federal charges. Marathon County
Assistant District Attorney Kyle Mayo is handling the prosecution of those
facing state charges.
You are
advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed
innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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