A Wausau couple could spend decades in prison after they were indicted Wednesday on federal charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
Xiong Lo, 52, and Ying Lo, 38, both of Wausau, now face charges of conspiracy to possess 50 kilograms or more of marijuana with the intent to distribute, along with two counts of money laundering. Prosecutors say the conspiracy operated from January 2015 to July 2015.
The indictment alleges that the defendants trafficked more than 100 pounds of marijuana, then used the proceeds to purchase property in California on January 8, 2015, and in Florida on June 5, 2015.
The couple used a combination of cashiers checks, money orders and a teller check to buy the properties, which they will be forced to forfeit to the government if they are convicted of the charges against them.
Xiong Lo, who also goes by the name Andy Lo, and Ying Lo, are husband and wife.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison.
The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, and Wausau Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.
