Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong will be given a second possibility by a Madison judge.

In July of 2015, Khammanivong had been indicted by a federal jury that is grand conspiring to distribute more than 50 kilograms (100 pounds) of marijuana between January 2014 and their arrest in July of 2015.

Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering medications to fuel his gambling addiction. During his September 20th sentencing, Khammanivong sobbed to the judge as he explained how gambling took over his life.

Khammanivong revealed he’s attended Gamblers Anonymous and contains avoided gambling enterprises since his arrest 445 days prior.

In total, Khammanivong faced up to 25 years in jail. But this week District Judge James Peterson in the District that is western of went easy on Khammanivong in hopes that the gambling addict can turn their life around.

Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in prison. A free man with credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom.

‘He hasn’t relapsed. He is doubled down on helping his family. He gets exactly how serious this is,’ Khammanivong’s lawyer Marcus Berghahn told the Wausau Daily Herald.

Khammanivong’s casino addiction reportedly cost him his wedding, though it is not clear where or how money that is much lost gambling. The court was told by him he was compensated several hundred dollars for each marijuana transport.

Pretty Peterson Please

The Western District of Wisconsin estimated Khammanivong delivered as much as 176 pounds of cannabis during the 17-month period.

According to Narcotic Information, a lb of cannabis is presently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. Which means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of marijuana.

Of course, marijuana is not heroin. Peterson apparently thought Khammanivong’s claims which he didn’t play an integral role in the medication ring, but simply served as a transporter.

Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is truly light thinking about the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.

Just month that is last a previous steel company CEO in Alabama was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for making use of insurance coverage funds to cover off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.

Also in August, a story that is bizarre about two similar yet split incidents involving female gambling addicts. Both women had stolen precisely $1.7 million from their employers that are respective Connecticut and Minnesota, and both lost all of the money gambling.

Diane Eiler of Minnesota was sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised probation. Patricia Meehan of Connecticut, who was first charged this year and served 46 months behind bars, violated her parole in 2016 and was handed an extra 8 weeks in jail and two years of supervised home release.

Like Brother, Like Brother

The feds still have case against Khammanivong, however Kongsaden Khammanivong but their younger bro Khongkha Khammanivong.

Khongkha, 43, is facing more charges that are serious. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine have actually been levied on the younger Khammanivong, and he’s also being accused of facilitating money laundering.

He’s dealing with a total of 60 years in jail and $5.5 million in fines.

Kongsaden Khammanivong is just another example of the Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the United States whom has developed a gambling addiction. The problem that is rampant recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have trouble with illegal gambling houses.