MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
In separate indictments, two Wausau men who are brothers are charged with drug offenses. Khongkha Khammanivong, 42, is charged with four counts of distributing marijuana, four counts of distributing methamphetamine, and one count of distributing cocaine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the drugs from April 2015 until January 28, 2016. Two of the counts allege that he distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The indictment also charges Khongkha Khammanivong with money laundering, by causing drug proceeds to be deposited by a third party into a safe deposit box for the purpose of concealing the proceeds.
Kongsaden Khammanivong, 48, is charged with conspiring to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from January 2014 to July 2015. He is also charged with distributing marijuana on July 2, 2015.
If convicted, Khongkha Khammanivong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on seven of the counts he faces. On the two counts alleging the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison.
If convicted, Kongsaden Khammanivong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge, and five years on the distribution charge.
The charges against the two are the result of an investigation by the Wausau Police Department; Marathon County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.