Eastern District of Wisconsin
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Michigan Man Sentenced to Ten years in Federal prison for traveling to Wisconsin to have sex with 15-year-oldRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on January 18, 2021, Scott D. Sundberg (age: 42) of Ishpeming, Michigan, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.
According to court filings, Sundberg began corresponding in August 2021 via a popular messaging platform with a 41-year-old woman in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who was the mother of a 15-year-old daughter. During these conversations, Sundberg sent videos containing child pornography and stated his desire to have sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old child. On August 13, 2021, Sundberg travelled from Ishpeming, Michigan, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to meet the woman and her child at a local motel. Sundberg, a retired firefighter, brought a fire helmet for the child to wear during the proposed sexual activity. The “woman” was, in fact, an undercover law enforcement officer and Sundberg was arrested upon his arrival at the meeting point.
At sentencing, Senior District Judge Griesbach noted the very serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Sundberg will spend 6 years on supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
Sundberg’s indictment and subsequent conviction were part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee and Green Bay Divisions of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. (https://go.usa.gov/xfPHh). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Two Men Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that two men were sentenced for fentanyl trafficking in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach issued the following sentences:
Name
Residence
Date Sentenced
Prison Sentence
Jabari O. Samuel (age: 42)
Milwaukee, WI
January 6, 2022
15 years
Anthony C. Martinez (age: 32)
Manitowoc, WI
December 20, 2021
9.5 years
Samuel and Martinez were both convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Samuel was also convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, the investigation revealed that over the course of approximately two months in the summer of 2021, Martinez obtained fentanyl from Samuel every other day and transported the fentanyl to Manitowoc for further distribution. In total, Martinez obtained approximately one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl from Samuel. On June 21, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Samuel’s residence in Milwaukee and located approximately 1.7 kilograms (3.7 pounds) of fentanyl, a Ruger LCR .380 firearm, and approximately $17,023 cash. Samuel and Martinez both have several prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc Metro Drug Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
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Indiana Resident Sentenced to 13 Years of Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on January 13, 2022, Dylan D. Cole (age: 22), of Anderson, Indiana, was sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)(B), and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, in September of 2021 the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LWAM) began investigating Cole for suspected distribution of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Cole was transporting methamphetamine from Indiana to the Fox Valley area. Investigators arranged for undercover purchases totaling over nine pounds of methamphetamine from Cole. During these transactions, Cole was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
In pronouncing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Cole’s offense and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Cole and anyone else who might attempt to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Cole’s incarceration in federal prison for a term of 13 years to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $16,763 in illegal proceeds.
The case was investigated by LWAM. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Duros.
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Oshkosh Man Sentenced in Green Bay Federal Court for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 3, 2022, Kenneth A. Wright, (age: 35) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for possessing a firearm following a conviction for a felony.
According to court filings,, officers with the Oshkosh Police Department obtained and executed a search warrant at Wright’s residence in December of 2020. The execution of the search warrant led to the recovery of a .380 Bursa firearm possessed by Wright.. At the time, Wright had previously been convicted of two felony drug distribution offenses. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.
At sentencing, , Judge Griesbach noted the “very serious nature of the crime,” noted the defendant’s serious criminal record, and a need to protect the community from such firearm violations. In addition to the 57-month prison sentence, he ordered Wright to spend three years on supervised release upon his discharge from federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Tennessee Resident, Stopped by Operation Kick Boxer, Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 20, 2021, David J. Dexter (age: 44) of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
According to court records,Dexter possessed and distributed numerous digital images and videos of child pornography. Dexter’s indictment and subsequent conviction were part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. (https://go.usa.gov/xfPHh).
At sentencing, Senior Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Dexter will spend five years on supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Knoxville, Tennessee Offices, as well as the Winnebago County Sheriffs’ Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Keshena Man Sentenced to Prison for Attempted Murder on Menominee Indian Reservation.Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 20, 2021, a man received a prison sentence for his actions in shooting another man on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Menom L. Powless-Brown (age: 19), formerly of Keshena, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation, was sentenced after entering a plea of guilty to Assault with Intent to Murder on September 10, 2021. Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach imposed a sentence of 120 months, which will be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
According to court records, on or about March 13, 2021, Powless-Brown assaulted another man by pointing a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at him. Powless-Brown intentionally discharged the handgun several times during the incident, resulting in bullets striking the other man once in the abdomen and Powless-Brown’s mother once in the face. The other man sustained significant injuries as the result of the shooting.
In imposing sentence, Senior Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the offense, reflecting that the incident was an unjustified attack on someone else who was fleeing from the defendant. Judge Griesbach observed the incident occurred in a residential area and exposed others to danger. Although the United States had recommended a higher sentence, Judge Griesbach concluded that the defendant’s youth and lack of prior record made a 10-year sentence appropriate.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted.
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Eastern District of Wisconsin U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $10 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2021Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced on December 20, 2021, that the Eastern District of Wisconsin collected $10,974, 686.11 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Of this amount, $4,795,841.29 was collected in criminal actions and $6,178,844.82 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Eastern District of Wisconsin worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $385,794.19 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $15,007.92 was collected in criminal actions and $370,786.27 was collected in civil actions.
“Everyone in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this district works diligently to protect the taxpayers and make crime victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Frohling. “We are committed to recovering any funds owed to the United States, collecting restitution for victims, and ensuring that wrongdoers do not profit from their criminal activities.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
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Milwaukee Man Indicted on Federal Sex Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced today that a federal grand jury had returned an indictment charging Samuel Spencer (age 49) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, for offenses that spanned over 15 years and multiple states.
If convicted for Count One, Spencer faces a maximum of life in prison. If convicted for Counts Two or Three, Spencer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Abbey M. Marzick.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Milwaukee Man Federally Indicted for Seven Armed Robberies of Tow Truck DriversRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced that on December 14, 2021, that a Milwaukee man was indicted for seven armed robberies of tow truck drivers in the Milwaukee area between September 17, 2021, and October 6, 2021. Specifically, Latherio Meadows, age 26, was charged with seven counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, seven counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
If convicted, Meadows faces up to 20 years in prison for each robbery count and a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years and up to life in prison on each charge of brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. He also would face up to ten years in prison for each of the counts of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Pain Clinic Owners Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Opioid PrescribingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced that on December 10, 2021, Lisa Hofschulz (age: 61), formerly a licensed nurse practitioner in the state of Wisconsin, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, and Robert Hofschulz (age: 74) of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for their involvement in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and “pill mill” operation.
Lisa Hofschulz and Robert Hofschulz were the owners and operators of Clinical Pain Consultants (“CPC”), which operated in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Following a 9 day trial in August 2021, a federal jury found Lisa Hofschulz guilty of unlawfully distributing Oxycodone, Methadone, and other opioids outside of a professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The jury also found that Lisa Hofschulz’s unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulted in the death of at least one patient. The jury found Robert Hofschulz guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
The evidence presented at trial established that Lisa and Robert Hofschulz ran CPC as a “pill mill” through which they distributed millions of opioids and other controlled substances throughout 2015 and 2016. The evidence showed that Lisa Hofschulz prescribed opioids and other dangerous controlled substances to 99% of patients, each of whom paid $200 in cash per month for their prescriptions.
The evidence also established that Lisa and Robert Hofschulz distributed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, including by mailing prescriptions to favored patients and prescribing to customers who were not seen by a medical provider. For at least one patient, Lisa Hofschulz’s prescriptions resulted in death. According to the trial evidence, during 2015 and 2016, Lisa Hofschulz was the number one prescriber of oxycodone and methadone in Wisconsin, as compared to all Medicaid providers.
“The opioid crisis continues to disrupt lives and cause injuries and overdose deaths throughout Wisconsin,” said Acting United States Attorney Frohling. “For many, the road to opioid addiction began with prescription drugs like the ones that CPC and the Hofschulzes willingly provided in exchange for cash. The Justice Department remains committed to holding accountable individuals who abuse their prescribing privileges to enrich themselves without regard to the damage done to their patients and their communities.”
“With nearly 100,000 Americans dying each year due to opioid overdose, medical professionals who violate their oaths to do no harm must be fully held accountable,” said John G. McGarry, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Wisconsin. “The DEA will continue keeping Wisconsin families safe from opioids that have been diverted from legitimate medical supplies.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service, Division of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Laura S. Kwaterski prosecuted the case.
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Waukesha County Neurologist Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 8, 2021, Sean A. Jochims (age: 51) of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography. The formal conviction followed the filing of a written plea agreement on November 5, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, an FBI special agent, acting in an undercover capacity, accessed multiple public Kik messenger groups that appeared to have been created for individuals interested in child pornography. On May 28, 2020, the agent detected that Jochims shared a video of child pornography with members of the group. Based in part on this information, agents obtained a search warrant for Jochims’ residence, where they recovered electronic storage devices. Subsequent forensic analysis of those devices revealed that Jochims accessed, and attempted to access, numerous files that contained child pornography. According to court records, at the time of his offense Jochims practiced as a neurologist in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Jochims will be sentenced on February 3, 2022, before United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Jochims will receive a 48-month prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan J. Paulson and Abbey M. Marzick.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Victim Services division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office may be reached at (800) 680-8949 for further information and support.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Justice Department Awards More Than $17.5 Million to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joined the Department of Justice in announcing that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. Funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. The Eastern District of Wisconsin was awarded funding totaling $190,951.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards. The awards are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that.”
“All of our neighborhoods should be places where residents and visitors can live, work, and enjoy themselves without fear of violence,” said Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling. “Grants such as these help further the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement and our community partners, not only to address criminal acts that have taken place but also to prevent violence before it occurs.”
“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”
In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
This fall, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime. For a list of all grantees, please visit: LINK HERE.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Green Bay Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 3, 2021, Dakota P. Van Frachen (age: 26) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
Van Frachen possessed and distributed numerous digital images and videos of child pornography. Van Frachen’s indictment and subsequent conviction were the result of a referral from a similar investigation in the District of New Jersey.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, the effect these crimes have on their victims, and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Van Frachen will spend five years on supervised release. Van Frachen was also ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment. He will be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Green Bay and Newark Offices. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
Suring Teacher Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sexual Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 3, 2021, John E. Fredenburgh (age: 37) of the Village of Suring, Wisconsin, pled guilty to a charge of traveling interstate with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(b), and an additional count of using a computer to attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b).
Based on his convictions, Fredenburgh faces a sentence of at least ten years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment when he is sentenced before Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach on March 14, 2022.
According to court records, Fredenburgh was employed as a substitute teacher with the Suring School District from December 2020 until his arrest in 2021.
This case was investigated by the Oconto Sheriff’s Office, the Oconto County District Attorney’s Office, the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee, Michigan Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee (Michigan) Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Milwaukee Man Federally Indicted for Six CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling announced on December 3, 2021 that a Milwaukee man was indicted for six carjackings in the Milwaukee and Oak Creek areas. Madison Tyler, age 20, was charged with six counts of motor vehicle robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
If convicted, Tyler faces up to 15 years in prison on each motor vehicle robbery count and a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years and up to life in prison on each charge of brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, which must run consecutive to any other sentence.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Oak Creek Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Appleton Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Child EnticementRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 29, 2021, Neil A. Frank (age: 36) of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for seeking to entice a child into having sexual intercourse.
According to court records, in May 2020, Frank began using a popular social media site to communicate with a 15-year-old located in Appleton. During these interactions, Frank requested graphic digital images and expressed his desire to have sexual intercourse with the child. On May 18, 2020, after Frank drove to the apartment complex where he believed the child lived, he was arrested by an undercover police officer with the Fox Valley Metro Police Department.
At the time of his arrest, Frank was a registered sex offender in the State of Wisconsin due to a prior conviction for attempted possession of child pornography in Outagamie County in 2012.
At sentencing, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, Frank’s prior record, and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Frank will spend five years on supervised release. He will continue to be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Fox Point Man Indicted for Defrauding Investors of over $5.5 MillionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 16, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted David O. Braeger (age: 54), of Fox Point, Wisconsin, for three counts of Wire Fraud, three counts of Bank Fraud, one count of Mail Fraud, and and two counts of Engaging in Unlawful Monetary Transactions, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, 1344, and 1957.
If convicted, Braeger faces a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine for each of the Bank Fraud counts. He faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the Wire Fraud counts and the Mail Fraud count. He also faces a maximum of ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for each of the Engaging in Unlawful Monetary Transaction counts.
According to the indictment, beginning on or about September 2016 and August 2017, Braeger engaged in two separate investment schemes in which he defrauded victims into investing in entities based on false representations and promises. The indictment alleges that instead of using the investor funds as promised, Braeger used a significant portion of the victims’ money to make Ponzi-like payments to prior investors and to fund his own lifestyle. The indictment further alleges that between 2016 and 2018, Braeger fraudulently obtained over $5.5 million from his victims.
In 2020, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred Braeger from associating with any member in any capacity based on findings that Braeger made misrepresentations and omissions to customers concerning investments he sold and findings that he converted and misused customer funds.
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of the Inspector General investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart will prosecute.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
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Appleton Man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Social Security of over $73,500 in Supplemental Security Income BenefitsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 22, 2021, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Appleton resident John P. Fischer (age: 63) to 18 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release after Fischer pled guilty to Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) Fraud, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 1383a(a)(3)(A).
From 2009 to 2017, Fischer fraudulently received over $73,500 in federal and state SSI benefits by knowingly concealing numerous resources from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”). SSI is a nationwide welfare program for the blind, disabled, and those over 65 years of age who have little to no income and no more than $2,000 in resources. SSI is funded by general tax revenues, unlike SSA pensions and SSDI that are funded by payroll taxes.
Fischer filed for SSI claiming that he met all criteria, but in fact, he had bank accounts, investment accounts, and vehicles that put him well above the $2,000 limit. Among them was a Roth IRA worth more than $42,000 that Fischer knowingly concealed from the SSA and secretly cashed out. Fischer also paid over $48,000 for two GMC Acadia SUVs without notifying the SSA that he had the money or the vehicles. In addition, Fischer’s scheme involved concealing his accounts and vehicles under the guise of two different “churches,” which were simply a front to hide his assets.
At sentencing, Judge Griesbach rejected Fischer’s request for probation and stressed that Fischer’s serious and long-standing criminal conduct warranted substantial prison time for purposes of punishment, deterring others from committing fraud, and reinforcing the public’s confidence in social-safety-net programs like SSI. The court also ordered Fischer to pay full restitution for his crime.
To that end, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has initiated an action to seize and auction two of Fischer’s vehicles, including a fully restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air that Fischer concealed from the SSA.
"SSI benefits are designed to help those in true need,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Individuals who lie about their own circumstances to wrongfully obtain such benefits harm every taxpayer and hurt those in need by undermining the integrity of these vital programs.”
“SSI is a critical safety net that provides much needed assistance,” said Andrew Boockmeier, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Division. “Mr. Fischer’s fraudulent actions—failing to report and attempting to hide his assets—caused SSA to improperly pay benefits to which he was ineligible to receive. SSA OIG will continue to work to protect SSA benefits from fraud and misuse. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”
SSI Fraud is a felony punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
This case was investigated by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General in Milwaukee. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy W. Funnell and Kelly B. Watzka
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Nashotah man sentenced for attacking U.S. Service MemberRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 18, 2021, Ian Alan Olson of Nashotah, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for attacking United States Servicemen on account of their status as servicemen, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1389(a).
According to court records, on March 15, 2021, Olson drove his vehicle to the U.S. Army Reserve station in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Olson’s vehicle was spray painted on all sides with words and symbols associated with the “QAnon” conspiracy theory. Olson then got out of his vehicle, produced what appeared to be a rifle, pointed it at two uniformed U.S. Army servicemen who were in the station’s parking lot, and exclaimed, “This is for America.” Olson then fired the weapon, which turned out to be a paintball gun, directly at the two servicemen. After Olson’s paintball gun jammed, the servicemen tackled him to the ground. Both servicemen initially believed Olson was holding a real firearm, and they feared that Olson intended to shoot and kill them.
In announcing sentence, U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig noted the seriousness of Olson’s conduct, saying that it showed disrespect for the country, for the rule of law, and for U.S. military service personnel. Judge Ludwig commented that any feelings of anger or frustration that Olson had about world events did not justify his unprovoked attack on the servicemen.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Village of Pewaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Proctor of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division.
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Two Men Sentenced for Drug Trafficking on the Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that two men received sentences related to their involvement in drug trafficking on the Menominee Indian Reservation on February 24, 2021. Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach issued the following sentences:
Defendant
Residence
Date Sentenced
Prison Sentence
Supervised Release Period
John D. Negani (Age: 37)
Lac du Flambeau, WI
October 25, 2021
36 months
48 months
Scott J. Mielkie (Age: 50)
Lake Tomahawk, WI
November 3, 2021
24 months
36 months
Negani pleaded guilty on July 21, 2021, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Mielkie entered a guilty plea to the same charge on August 3, 2021.
The investigation revealed that in the evening hours of February 24, 2021, Negani and Mielkie were in a vehicle on the Menominee Indian Reservation. A tribal patrol officer stopped the vehicle for an equipment violation, and a subsequent alert by a drug detection police dog led to the discovery of just under 30 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A search of the vehicle also revealed a Dan Wesson Arms .357 Magnum revolver in the vehicle.
According to court records, tribal investigators learned that Negani and Mielkie traveled to the Menominee Indian Reservation from the Lac du Flambeau area, purchased the methamphetamine from a source of Negani’s, and were traveling back “up north” for further distribution.
At their sentencing hearings, Judge Griesbach noted the destruction caused by methamphetamine in Northeastern Wisconsin and on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Judge Griesbach explained that there was a need to send a message, not just to the defendants, but to the entire community that committing crimes while armed would not be accepted.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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Former Police Chief Sentenced to Ten Additional Years for Possessing Child Pornography Before Reporting to Federal Prison for Prior OffenseRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 2, 2021, Alexander P. Bebris (age: 52) of Denmark, Wisconsin, was sentenced to an additional ten years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
According to court records, Bebris was convicted less than one year ago in the same federal court on a charge of distributing child pornography. He received a sentence of five years’ imprisonment in that case, but he was allowed to remain free pending the resolution of his appeal. On August 8, 2021, an appellate court upheld Bebris’ conviction, and he was ordered to report to federal prison. Three days before Bebris was to report to prison, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Bebris’ residence and recovered a substantial amount of recently-downloaded child pornography, including depictions of children as young as three years of age.
Bebris subsequently was indicted for possession of child pornography and entered a guilty plea. According to court records, prior to his arrest in his first case, Bebris spent his career in law enforcement, most recently as Public Safety Chief in Oakwood, Ohio.
At sentencing for his second offense, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach called Bebris’ actions “outrageous and highly offensive.” Judge Griesbach further stated that Bebris’ willingness to commit almost the exact same crime while on release indicated a “strong need for deterrence and punishment.” Judge Griesbach ordered that the 10-year sentence run consecutively to the previously imposed, 5-year sentence. Following his release from prison, Bebris will spend 10 years on supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Pediatric Associates, Samir Mullick, MD, Sc and Dr. Samir Mullick Agree to Pay over $700,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard. G. Frohling announced on October 27, 2021 that Samir Mullick, MD, SC, which does business as Pediatric Associates, and its owner Dr. Samir Mullick, agreed to pay $706,599 to resolve allegations that Pediatric Associates submitted false claims to Medicaid for unnecessary treatment and visits.
According to court records, Pediatric Associates operates three pediatric clinics in the Milwaukee area. The United States alleged that Pediatric Associates, under the direction of Dr. Mullick, submitted claims to Medicaid that relied on falsified diagnosis codes to justify unnecessary and otherwise non-reimbursable office visits. The United States further alleged that Pediatric Associates submitted claims for medically unnecessary testing and treatment, with disparate and more aggressive testing protocols for patients with Medicaid coverage as opposed to privately-insured patients.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes efforts to stop healthcare fraud and is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to protect health care program beneficiaries and the American taxpayers,” said Acting United States Frohling. “This settlement demonstrates our continuing efforts to combat violations of the False Claims Act.”
“Medical providers must ensure that the services they provide and bill for are medically necessary,” said Mario Pinto, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The OIG will continue to identify and investigate allegations of potential fraudulent billing to the Medicaid program in order to protect the health and safety of patients and vital taxpayer dollars.”
The government’s investigation resulted from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Accordingly, the whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement amount. As part of the settlement, the government and the whistleblower will ask the district court to dismiss the whistleblower’s qui tam complaint.
Assistant United States Attorney Maura Flaherty represented the government in this matter. The investigation was assisted by HHS-OIG and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control & Elder Abuse Unit. The settlement agreement states allegations only; the defendants do not admit liability for the allegations.
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14 Defendants Charged with Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Related Crimes in Racine, Wisconsin, and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 20, 2021, a federal indictment was unsealed that charged thirteen Racine-area individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine base in the form of “crack” cocaine.
The following individuals are charged in the indictment:
Name
Resident
GERARDO LARA, a.k.a. “MIGO,” a.k.a. “DINEROO,” (age 27)
Franksville, WI
SARAH A. BECKIUS (age 27)
Kenosha, WI
PLAZE E. ANDERSON (age 23)
Milwaukee, WI
JASMINE J. GONZALES (age 40)
Racine, WI
DEBRA J. URNESS (age 42)
Racine, WI
MARQUAN L. WASHINGTON, a.k.a. “MUNCH,” (age 30)
Racine, WI
MARIO M. JOHNSON, a.k.a. “RO,” a.k.a. “ROEGOTTI,” (age 33)
Racine, WI
ASHLEY M. WESTMORELAND (age 28)
Racine, WI
MICHAEL D. HARDIN, a.k.a. “MOJO,” (age 33)
Racine, WI
TERRY BRUMBY, JR., a.k.a. “T-NICE,” (age 32)
Racine, WI
CARL GRAYSON, a.k.a. “POPS,” (age 64)
Racine, WI
BRIAN L. PHILLIPS, a.k.a. “B,” a.k.a. “BRITTLE,” (age 33)
Racine, WI
MICHAEL A. WRIGHT, JR. (age 31)
Racine, WI
JERI L. BALDERAS (age 31)
Racine, WI
On the morning of October 20, 2021 , law enforcement personnel from the FBI, Racine Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Caledonia Police Department, Cudahy Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, North Central HIDTA, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, simultaneously arrested 12 defendants in the greater Racine and Kenosha areas as well as the State of Tennessee, and executed 18 federal search warrants.
The search warrants resulted in the recovery of multiple firearms and controlled substances. Two defendants were already in custody. According to court records, the majority of the individuals arrested in this operation are alleged to be members of the Vice Lord and Gangster Disciple street gangs, who worked together to further their drug trafficking organization.
“The indictment in this case and today’s arrests demonstrate the joint commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking activity by gang members and violent offenders and to improve the quality of life of residents throughout the district,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.
“We will continue to work collectively with all of our partners on the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force (MASSTF),” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes. “Utilizing joint resources creates the greatest impact in removing violent gangs, guns and drugs from our communities.”
“This morning’s operation was the culmination of almost 12 months’ worth of investigative work between local, state and federal law enforcement officers to hold members of these two violent organizations accountable. The execution of arrest and search warrants was as close to flawless as any I’ve seen in my 19-year career,” said Racine Chief of Police Maurice A. Robinson. “It is important to note that the subjects named in the arrest warrants were taken into custody without any force being used. I am extremely grateful for all of the officers involved that made this such a successful operation.”
The investigation of this case was conducted by MASSTF, which is comprised of personnel from the FBI, Racine Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Caledonia Police Department.
If convicted of the drug trafficking conspiracy, each defendant faces a minimum of ten years’ imprisonment with a maximum of life, a $10,000,000 fine, and between five years and life on supervised release. In addition, Balderas is charged with structuring a financial transaction to avoid a reporting requirement and faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment if convicted of that charge. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katie Halopka-Ivery and Bridget J. Schoenborn.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Milwaukee Men Charged with Laundering Proceeds of Business Email Compromise Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that a ten-count indictment was unsealed in federal court charging both Rolando Greer (age: 50) and Corey Lee (age: 50) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with: one (1) count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) and six (6) counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 & 1957. Greer is also charged with three (3) counts of making false statements to financial institutions, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014.
According to the indictment, beginning on or about May 2018, and continuing through at least July 2019, Greer and Lee conspired to launder, and did launder, proceeds of business email compromise (“BEC”) schemes. A BEC scheme is a form of cybercrime in which a fraudster uses false and misleading emails to fraudulently induce a victim to transfer funds to a bank account controlled by the fraudster and the fraudster’s accomplices.
The indictment alleges that Lee and Greer obtained funds stolen from at least four victims through BEC schemes. The indictment further alleges that Lee and Geer transferred those funds among various bank accounts that they controlled and used victim funds for their own personal purposes. Greer is also charged with using a false Social Security Number to open several bank accounts that were used as part of the money laundering scheme.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering or money laundering, Greer and Lee would each face a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison per count. If convicted of making a false statement to a financial institution, Greer would face a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Proctor and Peter Smyczek.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Wausau Woman Sentenced to 90 Months Imprisonment for Child Pornography DistributionRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on October 12, 2021, Natalie J. Ticho (age: 25) of Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for distribution of child pornography.
According to court filings, on November 17, 2020, undercover investigators received digital images of child pornography from an online user named “kiikii_24.” “Kiikii_24” also engaged in explicit conversations concerning the sexual abuse of children with the undercover investigators. It was subsequently determined that “kiikii_24” was, in fact, Natalie J. Ticho. A search warrant was obtained for Ticho’s residence and electronic devices. A review of those items revealed hundreds of images of child pornography and several online accounts used for the purpose of obtaining and distributing illegal images.
At sentencing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment for such a “terrible crime.” Following her release from prison, Ticho will spend ten years on supervised release. She will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
Ticho’s arrest and subsequent conviction were part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. (https://go.usa.gov/xfPHh). The Wausau Police Department, the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Judge Sentences Milwaukee Man to 45 Years’ Imprisonment for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 4, 2021, Calvin C. Freeman, Jr. was sentenced to a term of 45 years’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted of 14 federal crimes, including sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, interstate transportation for prostitution, interstate transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, as well as obstruction and contempt of court.
In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper recounted the decades of violence that Freeman inflicted on his victims. She cited many examples of his tactics, including incidents in which Freeman slammed one of his victims into a bathtub, put a cigarette out on a victim’s face, beat a victim with an iron, and forced a victim to continue walking the street looking for prostitution dates immediately after she had been violently raped and robbed. Judge Pepper also described Freeman’s disturbing pattern of beating his victims with a belt, noting that those beatings often left the imprint of Freeman’s designer belt buckle on their bodies. She noted that while the violence itself was “ugly” and “vicious,” the fact that Freeman used this violence to compel women to engage in commerce sex acts for his profit made it all the more egregious.
Chief Judge Pepper rejected Freeman’s arguments that his conduct was the result of his upbringing or that his victims had voluntarily entered the lifestyle and thus knew what they were signing up for. She described Freeman’s conduct as “the most heinous” example of sex trafficking she had ever seen in her career.
“The 45-year sentence reflects Mr. Freeman’s relentless criminal activity and his willingness to abuse and dehumanize others for his own financial benefit,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Mr. Freeman’s conviction and sentence were the direct result of the courage and resilience shown by his victims in agreeing to testify to the abuse they suffered at his hands. Today’s sentence stems from their resolve and from the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement and the prosecution team in this case.”
“Let this 45 year prison sentence send a strong message to those who prey on victims of sex trafficking using violence and manipulation,” said Special Agent in Charge Hughes. “The FBI will utilize all resources available to bring violent offenders to justice, and provide help for victims through our Victim Assistance Program.”
Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Enstrom stated, “The FDIC OIG’s investigation of the financial crimes in this case led to the discovery of the human trafficking ring in the Milwaukee area. Due to the diligence of the investigative team and the courage of the witnesses, Mr. Freeman was brought to justice. We appreciate the cooperation of our law enforcement partners in the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation– Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), and the Milwaukee Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Julie F. Stewart prosecuted the case.
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Hortonville Man Indicted for Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on October 5, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Jeffrey J. Wagner (age: 48) of Hortonville, Wisconsin.
According to the indictment, in March of 2021, Wagner knowingly received and possessed sexually explicit videos of prepubescent children. Wagner faces one count of receipt of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A), and one count of possession of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(b). He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years of imprisonment in federal prison on the receipt of child pornography count and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment on the possession of child pornography count.
“The protection of our nation’s children is a top priority of the Department of Justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Individuals involved in the receipt or distribution of child pornography will be prosecuted aggressively and will face real time in federal prison.”
Outagamie County Sheriff Clint Kriewaldt stated, “The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office is committed to aggressively investigating all crimes against children and removing these child predators from our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Fox Valley Man Sentenced for Arson of Ridgeway VP Gas StationRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on October 4, 2021, Christian B. M. Crawford (age: 28) of Menasha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for arson to a building.
According to court filings, in January of 2021, the Ridgeway VP gas station in Neenah, Wisconsin, was burglarized and set ablaze by Crawford. Prior to setting fire to the building, Crawford stole cigarettes, alcohol, and other items from the premises. Many of these items were later recovered during a search of Crawford’s residence.
Crawford was further linked to a string of burglaries, thefts, property, and drug crimes throughout Winnebago and Outagamie counties. These charges were resolved in conjunction with the federal arson charge.
At sentencing, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, the need for just punishment, and protection of the public. Following his release from prison, Crawford will spend three years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $793,000 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, the Neenah Police Department, the Menasha Police Department, the Fox Crossing Police Department, and the Winnebago and Outagamie County District Attorney Offices. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling has announced that on September 30, 2021, Ahmad R. Johnson (age 42, of Milwaukee) was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for narcotics trafficking and using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
The sentence encompassed conduct stemming from two cases, one charged in 2019 and the other charged in 2020. According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant on April 3, 2019, at Johnson’s residence and recovered narcotics and a firearm. Johnson was charged with trafficking heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana and with using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After the 2019 arrest, Johnson was released while awaiting trial – on the condition that he not commit any other crimes.
However, as court documents make clear, law enforcement executed another search warrant at Johnson’s residence on November 24, 2020. During that search, law enforcement recovered a diaper bag which contained not only diapers and baby wipes but also a loaded Ruger P93DC 9mm pistol with a 30-round extended magazine. In addition, law enforcement located crack cocaine (including 24 individually wrapped corner cut bags hidden in the oven), as well as numerous cell phones, scales, baggies, marijuana, and $1,225.00 cash.
Johnson later entered guilty pleas to two counts of drug trafficking and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of such crimes. Following his 12-year prison sentence, Johnson also must spend five years on supervised release.
These cases were jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Milwaukee Police Department. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Ingraham and Karine Moreno-Taxman.
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Two Men Sentenced to at least 14 Years in Prison for Cell Phone Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 24, 2021, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Maurice Tolbert (age 43, of Milwaukee) to 15 years and ten months in prison after Mr. Tolbert pled guilty to his involvement in four cell phone store robberies and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Judge Stadtmueller previously sentenced Mr. Tolbert’s co-defendant and cousin, Richard Tolbert (age 38, of Chicago) to 14 years in prison after he pled guilty to his involvement in three of the cell phone store robberies and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Each defendant faced a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years in prison for the use of firearms during crimes of violence.
The evidence reflected that Maurice and Richard Tolbert entered the cell phone stores and brandished firearms to steal cell phones and other electronic devices. On some occasions, they ordered the employees into the back rooms, where on at least one occasion they bound the employees’ wrists and ankles. The evidence further reflects that the firearms used during the robberies were purchased by Maurice Tolbert’s girlfriend, Angel Price, who was convicted in this case of providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and sentenced to 24 months of probation.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee Police Department, the West Allis Police Department, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office Investigators, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Heroin and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 21, 2021, Leroy Spinks (age: 34), of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a total of nine years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute over 70 grams of heroin and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug crime.
According to court records, Ashwaubenon Public Safety Officers were sent to a local hotel in response to a disturbance within one of the rooms. Officers determined that Leroy Spinks was one of the parties involved and located him in a car leaving the hotel parking lot. Upon searching the driver’s seat area and center console, officers located a large bag containing two separate baggies holding 22.2 and 50.4 grams of heroin as well as a loaded 24-round magazine. Officers located a loaded (10 rounds) black Glock 30 .45 caliber handgun under the drivers’ seat. Additional paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution was found in the car’s trunk. Spinks later entered guilty pleas to two federal offenses related to his conduct.
In pronouncing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Spinks’ offense, his criminal history, and the fact that at the time of the above offenses, Spinks was serving a term of federal supervision following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Griesbach also emphasized the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Spinks and anyone else who might attempt to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Spinks’ incarceration in federal prison for a term of nine years to be followed by six years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, Green Bay Police Department, and Brown County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William J. Roach.
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Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Selected for Participation in Program Enhancing Tribal Access to National Crime Information DatabasesRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joined Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and other Department of Justice officials in announcing that the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin was one of 12 federally recognized tribes selected to participate in the expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP), a program that provides tribal governments with means to access, enter, and exchange data with national crime information systems, including those maintained by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division and the states.
The program provides training as well as software and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI’s CJIS systems. With these additional tribes, there are now 108 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP.
TAP has been an important resource for the department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative and the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives known as Operation Lady Justice. The Department of Justice began TAP in 2015 in response to concerns raised by tribal leaders about the need to have direct access to federal systems.
Using TAP, tribes have shared information about missing persons; registered convicted sex offenders; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; run criminal histories; identified and arrested fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.
“Timely access to federal criminal information can help protect domestic violence victims, place foster children in safe conditions, solve crimes, and apprehend fugitives on tribal land, among other important uses,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “Increasing tribal access to criminal databases is a priority of the Justice Department and this Administration, and essential to many tribal government efforts to strengthen public safety in their communities.”
Acting United States Attorney Frohling stated “Having access to these databases will allow for the timely exchange of critical information – all with the goal of increasing public safety for everyone living, working, and going to school on the Menominee Indian Reservation.”
TAP is managed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Tribal Justice. It is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). For more information on TAP, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Green Bay Man Sentenced to Ten Years of Imprisonment for Methamphetamine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 13, 2021, John Yang (age: 32), of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a total of ten years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute over five grams of actual methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug crime.
According to court records, in the early morning hours of November 23, 2020, Yang was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Green Bay Police. While exiting the vehicle Yang struggled with officers causing a loaded firearm to fall from Yang’s waistband. He was subsequently discovered to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution. Yang later entered guilty pleas to two federal offenses related to his conduct.
In pronouncing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Yang’s offense, his poor criminal history, and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Yang and anyone else who might attempt to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Yang’s incarceration in federal prison for a term of ten years to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Green Bay Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy W. Funnell and Daniel R. Humble.
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Federal and State Officials Advise Wisconsinites That Making or Buying Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Cards Is IllegalRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Karen Timberlake, Secretary-designee and Anthony Baize, Inspector General of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to advise the public that any act of creating, distributing, selling, or buying of fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards and any act of forging COVID-19 vaccination information is illegal and punishable under federal law.
The unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a crime and may be punishable under federal law under Title 18 United States Code, Section 1017, and other applicable laws.
“COVID-19 vaccines provide important protection for all of us when we are at school, attending public events, using mass transit, at the workplace, or attending a place of worship. Those who might claim to be vaccinated when they are not are putting themselves and their loved ones at risk of contracting COVID-19,” said Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Get vaccinated, encourage your friends and family to do the same, and add an extra layer of protection by wearing a mask in public places including for teachers, staff and students in our schools.”
DHS also reminds Wisconsinites to not post vaccine cards on social media as the information could be stolen to commit fraud.
“If you have not been vaccinated, do not make your own cards or buy fake cards,” said Inspector General Anthony Baize. “If you were vaccinated and your card was not filled out correctly, do not fill in the card yourself. Instead, call your vaccine provider.”
“Public and private institutions, including employers, universities, schools, and businesses, need to be able to rely on the legitimacy of COVID-19 vaccine cards. Our office will use all available tools to prosecute individuals who knowingly falsify vaccine cards,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling.
“Legitimate COVID-19 vaccine cards—like the vaccines themselves—are crucial tools to prevent illness and death. People who are foolish or selfish (or both) enough to supply bogus vaccination cards, allowing others to circumvent COVID-19 curtailment efforts, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
If you know or suspect that any healthcare provider, pharmacy, private business, or Wisconsin resident is creating, distributing, selling, buying or forging COVID-19 vaccination cards in-person or online, please report such conduct to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office of Inspector General (877-865-3432 or www.reportfraud.wisconsin.gov); Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (1-800-HHS-TIPS or www.oig.hhs.gov); or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Former Police Chief Indicted for Possessing Child Pornography While Awaiting Start of Prior Federal Prison Sentence for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Alexander P. Bebris (age: 52) of Denmark, Wisconsin, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Milwaukee for possessing child pornography.
On November 13, 2020, Bebris, a former career law enforcement officer, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment following a conviction in the Eastern District of Wisconsin for distribution of child pornography. He was allowed to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal. On July 15, 2021, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied Bebris’ appeal and he was ordered to report to federal prison on August 24, 2021.
According to court records, on August 20, 2021, Calumet and Brown County law enforcement executed a search warrant at Bebris’ residence, found Bebris in possession of child pornography, and arrested him. The indictment alleges that Bebris possessed child pornography as a repeat offender and that he did so in violation of the terms of his release.
If convicted, Bebris faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 30 years of imprisonment. Further, any sentence imposed must be served consecutive to the 60-month sentence already imposed by the court.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood, marshals, federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Milwaukee Area Community Support Program Facilities Agree to Pay $390,080 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard Frohling announced today that Bell Therapy, Inc., and its parent company, Phoenix Care Systems, Inc., agreed to pay $390,080 to resolve allegations that they billed for services at the incorrect rates and billed for services not properly reimbursed, causing false claims for those services to be submitted to the Medicaid Program.
Bell Therapy operated two facilities in the Milwaukee area licensed to administer Community Support Programs (CSPs). CSPs provide services to mentally ill individuals in Wisconsin and are supported by state and federal Medicaid funds. The settlement resolves allegations that Bell Therapy fraudulently submitted claims for services rendered by providers without the requisite credentials or qualifications and/or at an incorrect billing rate as well as claims for group services billed as individual services. It also resolves allegations that Bell Therapy providers improperly billed for non-face-to-face activities.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes efforts to stop healthcare fraud and seeks to protect health care program beneficiaries and the American taxpayers,” said Acting United States Richard Frohling. “This settlement demonstrates our continuing efforts to combat violations of the False Claims Act.”
“Medical providers must ensure that the services they provide and bill for are conducted by personnel with appropriate credentials and qualifications and accurately reflect the service that is actually provided,” said Lamont Pugh III, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The OIG will continue to identify and investigate allegations of potential fraudulent billing to the Medicaid program in order to protect the health and safety of patients and vital taxpayer dollars.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States. Accordingly, the whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement proceeds.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yun represented the government in this matter. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General assisted in the investigation. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; Bell Therapy and Phoenix Care Systems do not admit liability for the allegations.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Former Airline Pilot from Kenosha County Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 24, 2021, Devery Moses (age:29), a former airline pilot from Kenosha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Lynn Adelman.
According to court records, Moses engaged in online “sextortion” with several underage girls from across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Some of the victims were as young as twelve years old. Filings indicate that after Moses received sexually explicit photographs and videos from his victims, he threatened to expose them on social media if they did not comply with his demand for increasingly outrageous and outlandish sexual acts.
Filings in the case reveal that many of the victims suffered significant, ongoing emotional trauma from his actions, including one victim reporting serious suicidal thoughts.
This successful prosecution of this case was the result of the extraordinary efforts of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Division, and the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan J. Paulson and Abbey Marzick.
Moses’s federal sentence will run concurrently with a -year sentence previously imposed for a state conviction for possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
Nashotah man pleads guilty to attacking U.S. Service MemberRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 18, 2021, Ian Alan Olson of Nashotah, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Milwaukee and pleaded guilty to attacking United States Servicemen on account of their status as servicemen, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1389(a).
As detailed in a plea agreement filed in the case, on March 15, 2021, Olson drove his vehicle to the U.S. Army Reserve station in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Olson then got out of his vehicle, produced what appeared to be a rifle, pointed it at two uniformed U.S. Army servicemen who were the station’s parking lot, and exclaimed “This is for America.” Olson then fired the weapon, which turned out to be a paintball gun, directly at the two servicemen. After Olson’s paintball gun jammed, the servicemen tackled him to the ground. Both servicemen initially believed Olson was holding a real firearm and they feared that Olson intended to shoot and kill them.
Olson will be sentenced on November 18, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. before United States District Judge Brett H. Ludwig. Olson faces up to two years in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Village of Pewaukee Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Proctor of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
Michigan Man Indicted for Traveling to Wisconsin to Have Sex with a 15-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Scott D. Sundberg (age: 42) of Ishpeming, Michigan, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Milwaukee following his August 13, 2021, arrest by local and federal authorities.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Sundberg began exchanging instant messages with an individual whom he believed to be the parent of a 15-year-old girl living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The complaint alleged that Sundberg expressed repeated interest in engaging in sexual activity with the 15-year-old and also sent pornographic images of children engaged in explicit sexual activity.
In fact, Sundberg was communicating with a law enforcement agent working as a part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office (https://go.usa.gov/xFfCm). Sundberg was arrested upon his arrival in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Sundberg used a computer to attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). If convicted, Sundberg faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to a lifetime of imprisonment.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood, marshals, federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Federal Jury Finds Wauwatosa Nurse Practitioner and Business Partner Guilty of Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 13, 2021, Lisa Hofschulz, a licensed nurse practitioner, and Robert Hofschulz, both owners and operators of Clinical Pain Consultants (“CPC”), were convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Lisa Hofschulz also was convicted of unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
The evidence presented at trial established Lisa and Robert Hofschulz ran CPC as a “pill mill” through which they distributed millions of opioids and other controlled substances throughout 2015 and 2016. The evidence showed that Lisa Hofschulz prescribed opioids and other dangerous controlled substances to 99% of patients, each of whom paid $200 per month for their prescriptions.
The evidence also established that Lisa and Robert Hofschulz distributed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, including by mailing prescriptions to favored patients and prescribing to customers who were not seen by a medical provider. For at least one patient, Lisa Hofschulz’s prescriptions resulted in death. During 2015 and 2016, Lisa Hofschulz was the number one prescriber of oxycodone and methadone in Wisconsin, as compared to all Medicaid providers.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2021, by Chief United States District Court Judge Pamela Pepper. Lisa Hofschulz faces a maximum life term of imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 20 years of imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service, Division of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Laura S. Kwaterski prosecuted the case.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
Defendant Convicted in Federal Court of Heroin Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that following a jury trial concluding on July 30, 2021, Royel Page, age 31, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, as well as twelve counts of attempting to possess with intent to deliver heroin.
This case was part of a long-term federal drug investigation based out of Milwaukee. Page was one of twelve defendants charged in federal court with conspiracy related to the distribution of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. In September 2017, law enforcement officers executed 14 federal search warrants in Milwaukee targeting members of this organization. Law enforcement recovered approximately 25 ounces of heroin, some of which was mixed with fentanyl, cocaine, five firearms, in excess of $150,000 in United States currency, and two kilo presses. Approximately 250 federal, state, and local officers participated in these arrests and search warrants.
As a result of his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin, Page faces up to 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Page is set to be sentenced in November 2021.
The investigating agencies in this case included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, City of Milwaukee Police Department, Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigation / Enforcement Removal Operations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wisconsin State Patrol, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Metro Drug Enforcement Unit, Wauwatosa Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, West Allis Police Department, and the New Berlin Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gail J. Hoffman and Elizabeth M. Monfils.
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Department of Justice Announces Launch of Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces to Crack Down on Sources of Crime GunsRead the Press Release
Eastern District of Wisconsin to Participate in Cross-Jurisdictional Strike Force
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joined the U.S. Department of Justice in announcing on July 22, 2021 the launch of five cross-jurisdictional strike forces to help reduce gun violence by disrupting illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country. Leveraging existing resources, the regional strike forces will better ensure sustained and focused coordination across jurisdictions and help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms from source cities, through other communities, and into five key market regions: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region, and Washington, D.C.
Each strike force region will be led by designated United States Attorneys, who will collaborate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and with state and local law enforcement partners within their own jurisdiction (where firearms are used in crimes), as well as with law enforcement partners in areas where illegally trafficked guns originate. These officials will use the latest data, evidence, and intelligence from crime scenes to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes.
“All too often, guns found at crime scenes come from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. We are redoubling our efforts as ATF works with law enforcement to track the movement of illegal firearms used in violent crimes. These strike forces enable sustained coordination across multiple jurisdictions to help disrupt the worst gun trafficking corridors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department of Justice will use all of its tools – enforcement, prevention, intervention, and investment – to help ensure the safety of our communities – the department’s highest priority.”
According to gun trace data, a significant number of firearms recovered in Chicago originate from outside the city, and many originate from the Eastern District of Wisconsin, among other locations. The new strike force will help ensure sustained and focused coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors in Chicago with their counterparts in those other locations.
The strike forces represent one important, concrete step in implementing the Department’s Comprehensive Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, which was announced on May 26, 2021. The comprehensive strategy supports local communities in preventing, investigating, and prosecuting gun violence and other violent crime—and requires U.S. Attorneys’ offices to work with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, as well as the communities they serve, to address the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. In guidance to federal agents and prosecutors as part of that comprehensive strategy, the Deputy Attorney General made clear that firearms traffickers providing weapons to violent offenders are an enforcement priority across the country.
Department of Justice Efforts to Address Violent Crime
Since April 2021, the Department has taken the following steps to reduce and prevent violent crime, especially the gun crime that is often at the core of the problem:
· April 8, 2021 – Attorney General Garland, alongside President Biden, announced four concrete steps for addressing gun violence: ATF would propose a new rule within 30 days to help curb the proliferation of so-called ghost guns, ATF would propose a new rule within 60 days on stabilizing braces used to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles, the Department would publish model state extreme risk protection order legislation within 60 days; and ATF would begin preparing a thorough and detailed new public study of firearms trafficking for the first time in 20 years.
· In April 2021, the Office of Justice Programs also made clear when existing grant funds could be used to support Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs.
· On May 7, 2021, ATF issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to update outdated firearms definitions and to help address the proliferation of ghost guns.
· May 26, 2021, the Attorney General announced the Department’s comprehensive strategy to reduce violent crime, including an overall Department Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, the strengthening of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and a directive to the U.S. Attorneys to work with their local partners in addressing the increase in violence that typically occurs over the summer (with specific support from DOJ law enforcement agencies).
· On June 7, 2021, ATF issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify that the restrictions imposed by the National Firearms Act apply when stabilizing braces are used to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles.
· On June 8, 2021, the Department published model state extreme risk protection order legislation.
· On June 22, 2021, the Attorney General announced that the Department would be forming five Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces within 30 days.
· On, June 23, 2021, the Attorney General, alongside President Biden, announced steps that ATF would take to hold rogue gun dealers accountable for their actions. They include applying a “no tolerance” policy for federal firearms licensers (FFLs) that willfully commit violations that endanger public safety; designating points of contact for state and local government officials to report concerns about rogue FFLs; formalizing the use of public safety factors for inspection prioritization; sharing inspection information with states that regulate firearms dealers themselves; resuming the practice of notifying revoked dealers on how to dispose of their inventory and the potential criminal consequences of continuing to engage in the business; increasing ATF’s resources for inspections (see, FY 2022 Budget request); and publicly posting disaggregated inspection information to ATF’s website.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced for his Role in COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joined Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and other federal officials in announcing that July 14, 2021 Stephen Smith, (42), of Milwaukee, WI was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for fraudulently seeking over $600,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Smith, 42, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty on April 12. According to court documents, Smith admitted that he fraudulently sought, on behalf of three different companies, over $600,000 in PPP loans through applications to an insured financial institution. According to his plea agreement, Smith caused fraudulent loan applications to be submitted that made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective payroll expenses. Smith then directed his co-conspirators to send him portions of the PPP funds within days of receiving them and used the proceeds for personal expenses.
In addition to the prison sentence, Smith was ordered to pay $397,500 in restitution.
The FBI, SBA-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. In the months since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases.
The Fraud Section has also seized more than $65 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
In May, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Man Sentenced for His Role in COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Wisconsin man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for fraudulently seeking over $600,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Stephen Smith, 42, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty on April 12. According to court documents, Smith admitted that he fraudulently sought, on behalf of three different companies, over $600,000 in PPP loans through applications to an insured financial institution. According to his plea agreement, Smith caused fraudulent loan applications to be submitted that made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective payroll expenses. Smith then directed his co-conspirators to send him portions of the PPP funds within days of receiving them and used the proceeds for personal expenses.
In addition to the prison sentence, Smith was ordered to pay $397,500 in restitution.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin; Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson of the SBA’s Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) Central Region; Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Hughes of the FBI’s Milwaukee Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Fran L. Mace of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – OIG (FDIC-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Kathy Enstrom of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chicago Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, SBA-OIG, FDIC-OIG and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. In the months since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $65 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
In May, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Multiple Men Indicted for Arson and Other Offenses Committed During Unrest in Kenosha; Investigation into Other Suspects ContinuesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on July 7, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted four men, in two separate cases, for various offenses committed during the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.
In the first case, Allen King, David Garner, and Kevin Martinez are charged with conspiring to steal controlled substances and transport stolen goods in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. King and Garner are also charged with two counts of arson, and conspiring to commit arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and 844(n). Martinez is additionally charged with illegally possessing ammunition as a felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
The charge against Martinez for illegally possessing ammunition stems from the shooting incident depicted below.
According to a publicly filed complaint, King, Garner, and Martinez traveled together from Minnesota to Kenosha on August 24, 2020. The complaint alleges that while in Kenosha, King and Garner attempted to set fires at a bar. King, Garner, and Martinez also looted and damaged other establishments in Kenosha, including a pharmacy and a gas station. The complaint further alleges that all three men described their illegal activities on social media, with King and Garner attempting to sell the stolen controlled substances over that same platform.
In the second case, Devon Vaughn is charged with arson, in relation to the fire at B&L Office Furniture in Kenosha.
Each of the arson crimes described above carries a mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment.
“These cases are the direct result of the dedicated, skilled, and collaborative efforts of ATF and its federal, state, and law enforcement partners,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “Along with our partners, the Department of Justice is committed to holding individuals who engage in arson and other violent offenses accountable for their actions.”
“I commend all the law enforcement agencies for their tireless efforts and the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence in charging these crimes that were committed during the civil unrest in Kenosha last August,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division. “ATF, alongside our partners, will continue to investigate those violent acts, and appeal to the public for their assistance, to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
“The Kenosha Police Department is grateful for the support and resources provided by our Federal, State and Local partners,” said Kenosha Police Chief Eric Larsen. “We are committed to continuing our joint investigations into the destruction that occurred in the City of Kenosha last August, until every last person responsible is brought to justice.”
Law enforcement is still investigating various other crimes associated with the unrest in Kenosha. Anyone with information about the individuals depicted in the following photos should contact Kimberly Nerheim, Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at (773) 658-6419. There is a potential reward involved.
These cases were investigated by the Milwaukee Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kenosha Police Department, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Knight and Philip Kovoor.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Two Indicted for Maritime Drug-Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 25, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Herlin Hernandez-Trinidad (a/k/a “Rainely), and on January 26, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Jose Crespo-Lorenzo (a/k/a “El Colombiano”). In both cases, the defendants were charged with a count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of Title 46, United States Code, Section 70506(b); and a count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.
Both Hernandez-Trinidad and Crespo-Lorenzo were recently arrested in Puerto Rico and transferred to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to face prosecution in this district.
“These indictments demonstrate an extraordinary effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold accountable those involved in international drug-trafficking activity designed to flood the streets of the United States and other parts of the world with harmful controlled substances,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.
“This investigation demonstrates the commitment of DEA and the involved partner agencies to pursue and disrupt the drug-trafficking organizations that are inflicting harm upon our communities with dangerous and illegal narcotics,” said DEA Wisconsin Assistant Special Agent in Charge John McGarry.
“This indictment is a great example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work in collaboration. HSI will continue its efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations like this one to keep our communities safe from the harmful effects of illicit drugs,” said Angie Salazar, special agent in charge, HSI Chicago.
“Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation worked alongside federal and local law enforcement partners on this sweeping investigation into large-scale drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to the investigators whose work has led to the arrests of many alleged members of this drug trafficking conspiracy. Cases like this one disrupt the supply of dangerous drugs to communities and can make a real difference in the fight against the drug epidemic.”
Each count carries a mandatory ten-year term of imprisonment and up to life imprisonment. The defendants further face fines of up to $10,000,000, and from five years to a lifetime term of supervised release.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictments are the product of a multi-year investigation into international drug-trafficking activity, including maritime shipments of bulk quantities of cocaine that were ultimately intended to reach various locations within the continental United States (such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and elsewhere.
The investigation is led by law enforcement agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Milwaukee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Brady, Jr., and Gail Hoffman are prosecuting the case.
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Wausau Woman Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on July 7, 2021, Natalie J. Ticho (age: 25) of Wausau, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and pled guilty to a single-count information charging her with distribution of child pornography.
As detailed in a plea agreement filed in the case, Ticho distributed sexually explicit images of a 7-year-old child and engaged in conversations online about child pornography. Unbeknownst to Ticho, she was communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. Her arrest and subsequent conviction were part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. (https://go.usa.gov/xfPHh).
Ticho will be sentenced on October 12, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. before Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Ticho will receive a 90-month federal prison sentence. She will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Milwaukee and Green Bay Offices, with the assistance of the Wausau Police Department and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Town of Mishicot Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison Following Decades of Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on June 28, 2021, Timothy J. Tetzlaff (age: 59) of the Town of Mishicot, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
In March 2021, Tetzlaff pled guilty to Transportation of a Minor with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Production of Child Pornography. The facts introduced at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that Tetzlaff sexually abused at least eight Manitowoc area children beginning in 1987.
In October 2020, an underage victim came forward and reported abuse by Tetzlaff to Manitowoc authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation revealed that Tetzlaff often took minors on camping trips throughout the United States and Canada, abusing them numerous times during the journeys. Tetzlaff also assaulted the children at his home in the Town of Mishicot. Law enforcement also discovered digital images of one of the victims on a digital camera belonging to Tetzlaff. Teztlaff had surreptitiously photographed the child while he slept in 2015. Following his arrest, several additional victims came forward to report being abused by Tetzlaff.
When sentencing Tetzlaff, Judge Griesbach noted the horrendous nature of the crimes and Tetzlaff’s pattern of preying on children. Judge Griesbach explained that a 30-year prison sentence was lengthy enough to protect the community given Tetzlaff’s advanced age. Upon the completion of his prison sentence, Tetzlaff will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Green Bay office of the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Green Bay Man Sentenced to 13 years in Federal Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 25, 2021, Darryl K. Green (age: 53) of Green Bay, Wisconsin was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.
Between January 2020 and August 2020, Green recruited, enticed, and forced dozens of women toengage in acts of prostitution under the threat of physical force. Often compelling the victims to give asmuch as 100% of the proceeds to him. Green also manipulated his victims’ controlled substance addictions to keep them in the prostitution trade. He pled guilty earlier this year to a charge of “Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking” contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1594(c), 1591(a)(1), and 1591(b)(1).
In handing down the sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the extremely serious nature of the charge, calling it an “astounding offense in many ways.” He further cited a strong need to protect the public and to deter Green and others from engaging in sex trafficking in the future. Following his release from prison, Green will spend 10 years on supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Green Bay Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Green Bay office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Daniel R. Humble.
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Federal Jury Finds Milwaukee Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin,
announced that on June 22, 2021, Calvin C. Freeman, Jr., was convicted of sex trafficking and
related offenses following a federal jury trial in Milwaukee. The crimes of which Freeman was
convicted include:
Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking
Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion (two counts)
Interstate Transportation for Prostitution (three counts)
Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity
Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Felon (two counts)
Obstruction of Sex Trafficking Enforcement (two counts)
Contempt of Court (three counts)
The evidence presented at trial established that Freeman used force, threats of force, fraud, and
coercion to compel female victims to engage in commercial sex acts in cities across the country,
including Milwaukee, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Miami, as well as in parts of
Southern California and Hawaii. One of the victims was a minor at the time Freeman transported
her for this purpose. The victims testified that Freeman kept and controlled all of the money they
made, whipping them with belts, threatening them with guns, and subjecting them to
dehumanizing punishments, such as forcible sodomy and smearing human feces in one victim’s
face when she failed to comply with his demands. The evidence also established that Freeman
repeatedly urged victims and witnesses not to speak to federal agents or to comply with court
orders, including while Freeman was in jail and subject to a no-contact order that had been
entered by a federal judge.
Freeman is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2021, by Chief United States District Court
Judge Pamela Pepper. Freeman faces a maximum life term of imprisonment and a mandatory
minimum of 15 years of imprisonment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General investigated the case with the assistance of
the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the
Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States
Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Julie F. Stewart prosecuted the case.
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