Prison Sentences for California-Based Drug Trafficking Ring That Shipped Methamphetamine to Northeastern Wisconsin

Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that five individuals received sentences after convictions for drug trafficking in the Fox Valley Region of Northeastern Wisconsin. The sentences, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, were the result of guilty pleas by the five individuals between August 30, 2019, and October 18, 2019:

Defendant	Charge of Conviction	Sentencing date	Months of Prison	Months of Supervised Release
Tou Lee Xiong, (Age: 45), formerly of Represa, CA	Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine	11/25/2019	240	60
Blia Lor, (Age: 38) formerly of Appleton, WI	Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine	11/26/2019	115	60
Meng Xiong, (Age: 43) formerly of Merced, CA	Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine	10/10/2019	120	60
Cher Yang, (Age: 31) formerly of Milwaukee, WI	Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine	12/5/2019	60	120
Gwen Biersteker, (Age: 41) formerly of Seymour, WI	Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine	3/3/2020	60	60

The investigation revealed that between October 2016 and November 2018, the defendants conspired amongst themselves and with others, and distributed a large quantity of methamphetamine in the Fox Valley region of Northeastern Wisconsin. The defendants and others arranged for shipments of methamphetamine to arrive by car couriers and postal shipments from northern California to Northeastern Wisconsin.

Tou Lee Xiong, who was a prisoner in the California prison system, used contraband phones to orchestrate shipments from sources in California. Blia Lor and Gwen Biersteker, along with others indicted and sentenced in previous cases, served as points of contact for local distribution in the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas. Yang provided funding for the endeavor, and transported methamphetamine from Milwaukee to the Appleton area. Xiong traveled from California in order to assume responsibility for local distribution networks and was caught by law enforcement with multiple pounds of methamphetamine and two handguns.

Evidence collected throughout the case suggests the amount of methamphetamine attributable to the group for the period it was active exceeded 100 pounds.

Senior Judge Griesbach pointed out the serious natures of the offenses, and noted the damage to the community caused by the defendants. The sale and distribution of a “poison” required stiff sentences as a deterrent to those who would consider engaging in this sort of activity. Senior Judge Griesbach also pointed out the defendants’ direct and indirect support of violent international drug cartels who perpetrated horrific violence against innocent citizens throughout the United States and elsewhere.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, Brown County Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.