United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FRESNO, CA - United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams announced that a federal grand jury returned a four-count second superseding indictment today charging Timothy Duane, 30, Lorena Duane, 26, Bounsou Vorasane, 50, and Kay Viengkham, 53, all of Fresno, with conspiracy to cultivate, distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. According to court documents, the conspiracy spanned from the Eastern District of California to the Northern District of Texas.

Timothy Duane, a former Madera County probation officer, fled after being arrested and released on bond. He is now a fugitive. The fourth count, failure to appear, implicates Timothy Duane only.

Vorasane is in custody; Lorena Duane and Viengkham are out on bond. They are scheduled to appear before United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on April 29, 2011.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Yasin Mohammad is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the drug charges, the four conspirators each face a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum term of 40 years, along with a $5 million fine. Timothy Duane faces an additional 10 years and up to $250,000 fine for his failure to appear. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.