Eastern District of Wisconsin
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kaukauna Man Sentenced for Federal Wildlife ViolationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 31, 2019, Christopher J. Hietpas (age: 35), of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced for violating Title 16 United States Code, Sections 3372(a)(2)(A) and 3373(d)(2), of “the Lacey Act.”
According to court documents, in September of 2015, Hietpas travelled to Saskatchewan, Canada, purportedly to hunt on First Nation Lands located within the province. Hietpas and the others in his hunting party employed the use of Little Pine First Nation guides, which would have allowed Hietpas and the others to legally hunt Mule Deer on First Nation Lands. Geolocation evidence taken from a cellular telephone, however, showed that Hietpas shot and killed two Mule Deer approximately 175 miles from the nearest First Nation boundary, in violation of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act. Hietpas later acknowledged that he was not hunting on First Nation Lands when he shot the Mule Deer. The two Mule Deer antlers and capes (skin from the nose to shoulder) were then exported from Saskatchewan in violation of the Lacey Act, ultimately ending up at Hietpas’ residence in Kaukauna.
Federal Magistrate Judge James R. Sickel ordered Hietpas to pay a $5,000 fine to the “Lacey Act Reward Fund,” as well as restitution in the amount of $5,600 CAD (Canadian dollars) to the Province of Saskatchewan’s “SaskTip” program. Further, the Mule Deer mounts were ordered forfeited and will be turned over to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Finally, Hietpas was also ordered to forfeit his hunting rifle and scope used to illegally kill the animals.
The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Walgreen Co. Agrees to Pay $3.5 Million to Settle Allegations Under the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Walgreen Co. (“Walgreens”) has agreed to pay $3.5 million to the United States and the State of Wisconsin to settle allegations that Walgreens violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicaid for stimulant medications without complying with Medicaid rules designed to ensure that stimulants are dispensed for appropriate medical treatment.
Walgreens operates retail pharmacies throughout Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Medicaid program will reimburse a pharmacy for dispensing certain stimulant medications only if the pharmacy first verifies with the prescribing physician that the physician prescribed the stimulant for medically appropriate treatment, such as treatment for attention deficient disorder. The False Claims Act prohibits a pharmacy from knowingly submitting claims for payment for medications in violation of Medicaid’s rules.
The United States and the State of Wisconsin allege that, from 2011 through 2014, Walgreens violated Wisconsin Medicaid rules by dispensing routinely stimulant medications to Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries without first verifying that the prescribing physician ordered the medication for medically appropriate treatment. The United States and the State of Wisconsin further allege that, by failing to verify that medications were prescribed for appropriate treatment, Walgreens dispensed and billed Wisconsin Medicaid for medically unnecessary medications.
“Pharmacies play an important gate-keeping role in the Medicaid program to ensure that the millions of dollars spent each year on prescription medications buy drugs that are medically necessary,” stated United States Attorney Krueger. “This settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will hold pharmacies accountable.”
“The dispensing of medications of any kind needs to be done following all protocols and with proper verification to ensure the medical necessity of the treatment,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “This settlement includes an OIG Corporate Integrity Agreement that contains requirements, such as multi-site claims reviews to be conducted by an Independent Review Organization, that seek to aid adherence to Federal health care program rules. The OIG will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to protect the health and safety of Medicaid patients and vital taxpayer dollars.”
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation prioritizes the protection of consumers and will continue to hold accountable healthcare providers who misuse the Medicaid program,” said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Tolomeo. “This $3.5 million settlement shows that violations of Medicaid rules have a significant impact on the healthcare industry and taxpayer funds.”
Although the U.S. Attorney’s Office generally is not issuing press releases during the current lapse in appropriations, this announcement is being made because the settlement falls under the same Corporate Integrity Agreement that was recently announced in relation to cases being settled in the Southern District of New York. See https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-2692-million-recovery-walgreens-two-civil-healthcare. The investigation resulted from whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Consequently, the whistleblowers will recover a share of the settlement amount. As part of the settlement, the United States, the State of Wisconsin, and the whistleblowers asked the district court to dismiss the qui tam complaint.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Carter represented the government in this matter. The FBI, OIG, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control & Elder Abuse Unit assisted in the investigation. The settlement agreement states allegations only; Walgreens does not admit liability for the allegations.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth B. Gales 414-297-1700
Man Sentenced to Fifty-Two Months in Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 13, 2018, Deily Veras (age 33) of Newark, New Jersey, was sentenced in federal court to 52 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $2.7 million in tax refund checks. The sentence followed his guilty plea to theft of government money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. Veras was also ordered to pay $2,766,926.15 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).
Veras committed his theft by fraudulently obtaining the identities and Social Security Numbers (“SSNs”) primarily of Puerto Rican residents. Residents of Puerto Rico are issued SSNs, but they are not required to file federal income tax returns or pay federal income tax unless they earn income from sources outside of Puerto Rico. Accordingly, Puerto Rican residents are vulnerable to stolen identity refund fraud because their SSNs are usually not already associated with a United States income tax return. Veras took advantage of this vulnerability by using the names and SSNs of Puerto Rico residents to fraudulently file false tax returns and receive refund checks in the United States mail. Veras would then take the tax refund checks to an individual in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for cashing.
As part of the investigation of Veras, IRS Criminal Investigation agents executed search warrants at Veras’ home and business in New Jersey. During the execution of the warrants, agents seized evidence of personal identifying information of over 500 individuals, most of whom were Puerto Rican residents.
“The defendant stole not only individuals’ identities but also hard-working taxpayers’ funds,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “This lengthy sentence should send a clear message that identity theft and tax fraud will be prosecuted aggressively. We commend IRS Criminal Investigation’s excellent work in building this case.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Ng said, “Individuals who commit identity theft of this magnitude and with this degree of dishonesty and deceit, deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. IRS Criminal Investigation, along with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney's Office, remain vigilant in identifying, investigating and prosecuting those individuals who seek to willfully defraud the United States Treasury and blatantly disregard the victims of their schemes.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keith Alexander.
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Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Federal Prison for Fraud Involving Counterfeit Debit Cards and ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger has announced that on December 19, 2018, Judge J.P. Stadtmueller, District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, sentenced Ionel Muresanu, 18, to 58 months in federal prison following his conviction for multiple offenses involving the possession and use of counterfeit debit cards. Muresanu, a native of Craiova, Romania, is subject to deportation upon the completion of that sentence.
On September 11, 2018, Muresanu was convicted by a federal jury of one count of Possession of 15 or More Counterfeit Access Devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1029 (a)(3), and three counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation 18 U.S.C. Section 1028A (1). In addition to the prison sentence, Stadtmueller, ordered Muresanu to pay $146,721.80 in restitution. He described identity theft as one of the worst crimes he could imagine, noting the far-reaching consequences for unsuspecting victims.
At trial, the jury heard testimony that Muresanu, along with a juvenile companion, participated in an ATM skimming scheme, wherein they placed and retrieved “skimmers” and pinhole cameras at ATM machines. The devices captured the account and personal identification numbers of unknowing customers, which another accomplice transferred to the magnetic stripes of generic gift cards. Muresanu and his juvenile companion along with other teams of workers traveled around the country, using the counterfeit cards to extract money from the accounts of unknowing victims.
Muresanu was arrested on May 16, 2018, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin by detectives from the Oshkosh Police Department who investigated based on a tip from Tennessee law enforcement.
At the time of his arrest, Muresanu possessed a total of 80 counterfeit cards. An additional 14 cards were recovered from his juvenile companion and six more cards were recovered at the Oshkosh store where the two were observed using the cards at an ATM.
In his statements to the police, Muresanu admitted that he had placed skimming and pinhole devices on ATM machines in Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, and Kansas City, Missouri. He told police that after the counterfeit cards were created, he and his accomplices waited for several months before traveling to different states to use the cards. He would get 25% of the stolen proceeds obtained with each batch of cards, and had obtained as much as $30,000 from a single batch. Receipts recovered at the time of his arrest showed that Muresanu and his companion had used some of the recovered cards at ATM’s in Illinois and Wisconsin before they were apprehended.
“This lengthy sentence—nearly five years in federal prison—sends a clear message that identity theft is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the law enforcement agencies for their excellent work in building this case.”
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department, the United States Secret Service Milwaukee Financial Crimes Task Force, and the Wauwatosa Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karine Moreno-Taxman and Carol L. Kraft
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Neenah Man Arrested on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 20, 2018, Alexander P. Bebris (age: 49) of Neenah, Wisconsin, was charged by a criminal complaint with distribution of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A), and possession of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B). He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and up to 20 years of incarceration in federal prison.
According to the complaint and supporting affidavit, in September of 2018, Facebook notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one of its users had sent images of child pornography via its messenger system to another Facebook user account. The Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce launched an investigation and determined that the images were sent from an IP address in use at Bebris’s residence in Neenah. Investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for that residence.
On December 19, 2018, the search warrant was executed at Bebris’ residence. A preliminary forensic examination of the hard drive on Bebris’ computer revealed images of pornography involving children ranging in age from approximately one to ten years old.
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s ICAC Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
A criminal complaint 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 Dean Puschnig (414) 297-1700
Seven North Carolina Residents Indicted for Scheme to Defraud Banks and Credit Unions in Green Bay and the Fox ValleyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 18, 2018, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Che L. Simons a/k/a “Che L. Simmons” (age: 28), Sequoia D. Southerland (age: 21), Mackel H. W. Gaither (age: 28), Henry L. Wilder (age: 32), Fred P. Allen a/k/a “Timothy B. Glass Jr.” (age: 24), Keith D. Davidson (age: 26), and Deshawn D. Mobley (age: 27) all residents of North Carolina. Together they are charged with five counts of financial institution fraud contrary to Title 18 United States Code, Section 1344 and two counts of aggravated identity theft in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. Each fraud count carries a maximum of 30 years imprisonment and $1,000,000 fine, while the identity theft counts call for a mandatory two years imprisonment consecutive to any underlying sentence handed down by the court.
The indictment alleges the group schemed to defraud financial institutions across the United States, including numerous banks and credit unions in the Fox Valley and Green Bay areas. The defendants are alleged to have stolen checks from numerous Wisconsin businesses’ mailboxes prior to altering them and recruiting individuals from homeless shelters, state probation and parole offices, Salvation Army rehabilitation centers, and bus stations to cash the counterfeit checks in exchange for a small amount of money. The defendants are alleged to have obtained or attempted to obtain more than $120,000 from banks and credit unions in Northeast Wisconsin.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Appleton Police Department, Grand Chute Police Department, Green Bay Police Department, De Pere Police Department, Ashwaubenon Public Safety Office, Marinette Police Department, and the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Racine Man Convicted of Impersonating a DEA AgentRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 18, 2018, a jury in Milwaukee returned guilty verdicts on two charges of impersonating a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent against Jeremy C. Wade, (age: 29) of Racine. Wade had been charged with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 912.
The evidence at trial showed that in January and February 2018, in Racine, Wade carried a firearm and wore an official-looking DEA badge in an encounter with a citizen in which Wade asked for information about a particular individual, and showed the citizen a supposed ‘mugshot’ photograph of the individual. The evidence at trial further showed that in February 2018, Wade renewed his request for information about the location of the wanted person by writing the citizen a note on his official-looking DEA business card and leaving it at the citizen’s residence.
Sentencing has been set for May 9, 2019, before United States District Judge Pamela Pepper. Each of the two counts of conviction carry maximum possible penalties of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
United States Attorney Krueger stated, “It is critical that citizens be protected from unscrupulous people who would convincingly pretend – as the defendant did in this case – that they are federal law enforcement agents. We are committed to protecting the reputation and integrity of federal law enforcement agents, whose badges are earned, not purchased on the Internet.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Racine Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Stephen A. Ingraham.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-97-1700
Keshena Man Sentenced for Aggravated Assault on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2018, Shawn Sanapaw (age: 38), of Keshena, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach after a conviction for Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury. The sentence was the result of a July 2, 2018, guilty plea entered before Chief Judge.
The investigation revealed that on September 29, 2017, Sanapaw caused injuries to another person when he struck that person with a floor lamp. Witnesses further indicated Sanapaw pointed a rifle at the person and unsuccessfully attempted to fire it. Sanapaw then left the residence, which was in a remote portion of the Menominee Indian Reservation. Officers with the Menominee Tribal Police Department later apprehended Sanapaw. Sanapaw pleaded guilty to assault in Menominee Tribal Court and served a tribal sentence for the offense, before going into federal custody in June 2018.
In sentencing Sanapaw, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense, and observed the need to deter others who might consider similar actions, stating “this type of behavior cannot be tolerated.”
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414 297-1700
Hortonville Man Receives 15 Year Sentence for Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 10, 2018, Jason W. Junek (age: 42) of Hortonville, Wisconsin, was sentenced by Chief District Judge William C. Griesbach to 15 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of minor children in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 2251(a). Upon his release, Junek will be on federal supervised release for 10 years and will have to register as a sex offender in the jurisdiction in which he resides. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
Junek used several popular social messaging applications to exchange texts, instant messages, and sexually explicit images with underage girls located across the United States and in several foreign countries. Junek created fictitious accounts to portray himself as a high school student utilizing the names “Jordan Fuerst” and “Josh Gibson.” Junek convinced the underage girls that he was their “boyfriend” and manipulated them into sending sexually explicit digital images and videos.
In pronouncing sentence, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the “horrible” nature of Junek’s crimes stating he “deprived children of their innocence.” The judge proclaimed the strong need to deter Junek and others from engaging in sexual communications with minors via the internet and that Junek’s actions called for substantial punishment.
The case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. 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 further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, (414) 297-1700
Aurora Health Care, Inc. Agrees to Pay $12 Million to Settle Allegations Under the False Claims Act and the Stark LawRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Aurora Health Care, Inc. (“Aurora”) has agreed to pay $12 million to the United States and State of Wisconsin to settle allegations that Aurora violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid in violation of the Stark Law. Aurora and its affiliates (“Aurora”) are part of Advocate Aurora Health, Inc., an integrated health care system that serves patients throughout eastern Wisconsin, Illinois, and the upper peninsula of Michigan.
The Stark Law provides that the government will not pay for designated health services ordered by physicians who have improper financial relationships with entities to whom they refer patients because such financial relationships can compromise the physicians’ professional judgment. The False Claims Act prohibits an entity from knowingly submitting claims for payment for such services.
The United States and State of Wisconsin allege that, during certain periods from 2008 to 2012, Aurora entered into compensation arrangements with two physicians that did not comply with the Stark Law because the compensation arrangements were not commercially reasonable and because the compensation exceeded the fair market value of the physicians’ services, took into account the physicians’ anticipated referrals, and was not for identifiable services. The United States and the State of Wisconsin allege that Aurora nonetheless submitted claims for services ordered by those physicians to Medicare and Medicaid, in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Each year, Federal and State governments spend over a trillion dollars on healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “This settlement reflects the U.S. Department of Justice’s commitment to using all available legal tools to ensure those healthcare dollars are spent wisely.”
“Healthcare entities need to ensure that compensation arrangements with physicians are clear and appropriate,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region (“HHS OIG”). “The practice of self-referring presents a conflict of interest and can lead to the overutilization of services which ultimately drives up the cost of health care. The OIG will continue to examine and investigate those relationships that violate federal statutes in an effort to protect vital taxpayer dollars.”
“This $12 million dollar settlement demonstrates how these violations have a significant and direct economic impact on the health care industry,” said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Tolomeo. “Our priority is to protect consumers and hold accountable those in the healthcare system who misuse the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
The investigation that discovered the allegedly improper compensation arrangements resulted from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Consequently, the whistleblowers will recover a share of the settlement amount. The whistleblowers’ complaint alleged different claims that are not the basis for the settlement agreement being announced today. The United States and the State of Wisconsin is not intervening in the whistleblowers’ lawsuit to pursue those claims. As part of the settlement, the United States, the State of Wisconsin, and the whistleblowers will ask the district court to dismiss the qui tam complaint.
The investigation was assisted by the FBI, HHS OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control & Elder Abuse Unit. The settlement agreement states allegations only; Aurora does not admit liability for the allegations.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Oshkosh Man Indicted for Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 4, 2018, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed against Desmond T. Burns (age: 39) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges Burns distributed Fentanyl in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Further, it alleges the distribution resulted in the overdose death of a New London man in June of 2017. Other court filings identify Burns as the distributor of Fentanyl that resulted in the May 2017 overdose death of an Appleton woman. If convicted Burns will serve between 20 years and a lifetime in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, the New London Police Department, and the Appleton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
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Green Bay Man Sentenced for Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl, Resulting in One Death and Two OverdosesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 3, 2018, David L. Shanks Jr. (age 37), was sentenced to multiple life terms of imprisonment by Chief District Judge William C. Griesbach. In September, Shanks was convicted by a jury in Green Bay of conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A). At the time of this conspiracy, Shanks was on federal supervision for a prior felony drug conviction. Shanks also had been convicted in 2000 of a felony drug charge in Dane County, Wisconsin. As a result of these prior convictions, Shanks received a mandatory life term of imprisonment as required by federal law.
Judge Griesbach also imposed life prison terms on three other counts. One count involved the distribution of heroin/fentanyl/methamphetamine resulting in death, while the other counts involved the distribution of heroin/fentanyl resulting in substantial bodily injury to two overdose victims. Judge Griesbach also imposed 30-year terms of imprisonment on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine to confidential informants. These counts were all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A).
The trial evidence established that between August and October of 2017, Shanks was the leader of a conspiracy involved in the daily sale of heroin, laced with fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Shanks’ sale of heroin/fentanyl resulted in the overdose death of one individual on September 10, 2017. Shanks also was responsible for the sale of heroin/fentanyl that resulted in the overdose of two other individuals on September 22, 2017. Fortunately, paramedics and law enforcement provided lifesaving assistance to both individuals. Cooperating witnesses testified that Shanks was responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin and meth in the greater Green Bay and Iron Mountain, Michigan, area. Witnesses described seeing Shanks with baseball sized quantities of heroin and $5,000 stacks of money, which were proceeds from drug sales.
The following agencies participated in the investigation: Brown County Drug Task Force; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration, Green Bay Field Office; Green Bay Police Department; and Green Bay Fire Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Zachary Corey.
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Kiel Wisconsin Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Food TamperingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Judge Pamela Pepper, sentenced Jonathan Tilman Lane, from Kiel, Wisconsin, to 54 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised released for tampering with a consumer product in violation of Title 18, United States Code 1365. Lane was also ordered to pay $42,035 in restitution.
According to information released in court on separate occasions in March 2018, Lane, then a contract employee at Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, placed foreign objects into sausage links. Video surveillance determined that Lane placed a cigarette paper on one occasion, and on second time, he placed a copper wire in a sausage link. Both times, if the items had not been removed, the items would have continued on the processing line thus affecting interstate commerce. Lane was in the final phase of the processing line before packaging and any materials introduced had a risk of going out to the consumer. Due to the public risk of Lane’s behavior, Johnsonville closed down the operation and discarded all products which they believed could have been affected.
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin stated, “The significant sentence imposed here shows that any attempt to tamper with consumer products will be taken seriously. We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their effective actions to prevent harm and investigate this matter.”
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Felon Convicted of Threatening U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier and Firearm Possession in MilwaukeeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 27, 2018, a jury found David E. Polnitz, Jr., (age: 39) of Milwaukee, guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and forcibly assaulting, impeding, intimidating or interfering with a United States Postal Service (USPS) Letter Carrier.
On June 27, 2017, a USPS Letter Carrier was attempting to deliver mail when Polnitz’s unrestrained pit bull charged the Letter Carrier. Fearing for his safety, the Letter Carrier followed procedure and sprayed the pit bull with USPS-issued dog spray. Polnitz upon being notified by his spouse of the incident, ultimately pointed a Taurus, model PT738, semi-automatic .380 pistol at the Letter Carrier. The Letter Carrier identified Polnitz, among other ways, by his distinctive “Pepsi blue” contact lenses.
Polnitz was previously convicted of second degree recklessly endangering safety and robbery with use of force. He is awaiting sentencing by United States District Court Judge Pamela Pepper. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a maximum term of supervised release of six years, and a maximum fine of $500,000 for being a convicted violations of Title18 United States Code §§ 111, 922(g)(1), and 924(a)(2).
“Letter Carriers should not have to fear violence as they deliver mail in our neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “The Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens harm to federal employees. We commend the law enforcement agencies for their excellent work in bringing justice to this matter.”
“The safety and protection of postal employees is one of our highest priorities,” said Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The guilty convictions in this case send a strong message that threatening or intimidating a postal worker will not be tolerated.”
The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Corey and Benjamin Taibleson.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Neenah Man Indicted on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 20, 2018, a federal indictment was issued against Jeffrey Melgar (age: 33) of Neenah, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Jeffrey Melgar possessed in excess of 50 grams of actual (also known as “crystal”) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a) and (b)(1)(A). If convicted of the charges alleged, Melgar faces a mandatory 10 year prison sentence and up to a life sentence. Melgar will be arraigned on November 27, 2018, in Green Bay federal court.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Former Green Bay Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Filing False Tax Returns and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Alma Ramirez (age: 40) formerly of Green Bay, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, assisting in the filing false tax returns seeking fraudulent tax refunds, and aggravated identity theft.
As part of her plea, Ms. Ramirez, acknowledged that, during the period from March 2013 through May 2016, she and others working with her and at her direction, prepared and electronically filed with the IRS more than 60 false federal income tax returns that fraudulently sought the refund of more than $300,000 in federal income taxes.
In addition, Ms. Ramirez acknowledged that, as part of her scheme, she stole the identity of third parties and used those identities fraudulently by falsely claiming the stolen identities as dependents on tax returns.
Ms. Ramirez faces a minimum, mandatory sentence of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft, and up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge. She has also agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $301,000. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Two Keshena Men Sentenced for Firearms Offenses on the Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Bobby Joe Sanapaw (age: 33) and Jeremy Fish (age: 34), both of Keshena, recently received sentences after convictions for firearms offenses on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentences were the result of July 12, 2018, guilty pleas entered by both men before Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach. Sanapaw was placed on probation for a period on one year on October 31, 2018 after a conviction for Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun. Fish was sentenced on November 9, 2018 to 18 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release after a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The investigation revealed that on July 12, 2017, Fish armed himself with a rifle and provided Sanapaw with a short-barreled shogun in order to confront residents at a nearby home about the neighbors’ dog. After entering the neighbors’ home and indicating a desire to kill the dog, Fish fatally shot the dog. The two fled the area after one of the residents retrieved a handgun. The resident shot and seriously wounded Sanapaw.
In sentencing Fish and Sanapaw, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense. Chief Judge Griesbach also noted that the combination of alcohol and firearms led to a “catastrophe,” and observed the need to deter others who might consider similar actions in dealing with neighbors.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Third Liberty Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Preparing Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Karen Tompkins (Age: 58) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Milwaukee and pleaded guilty to two felony counts. Specifically, Tompkins admitted to knowingly taking part in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by preparing and filing with the IRS false tax returns that fraudulently claimed tax refunds to which the individuals were not entitled. Tompkins also admitted to willfully aiding in the preparation and filing of false income tax returns while employed as a tax return preparer.
Co-conspirators Shalonda Burns (Age: 41) and Latoya Bush (Age: 38), both of Milwaukee previously plead guilty to the same charges on September 13, 2018 and November 5, 2018. A fourth defendant, Lori Ann Stringfellow was indicted on February 13, 2018.
Tompkins was employed as a manager at a branch of Liberty Tax Services that was located at 3929 N. Humboldt Boulevard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tompkins admitted to conspiring to inflate filers’ tax refunds by including false information in the filers’ tax returns. This included inventing false Schedule C business income for non-existent businesses and claiming false W-2 income and Additional Child Tax Credits to which the filers were not entitled. Additionally, Tompkins admitted to receiving kickbacks from the inflated tax refunds and creating fake documentation that was meant to support the filers’ business income.
Tompkins faces up to eight years in prison and fines of up to $350,000 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Taibleson.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Mexican Citizen Charged in Federal Court with Illegal Reentry into the United States, Drug Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Matthew Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment charging Jose Facio-Santos (age 39), a Mexican citizen, with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, § 1326(a); three counts of the unlawful possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 922(g)(5); three counts of drug distribution in violation of Title 21, United States Code, §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and Title 18, United States Code, § 2; and two counts of aiding women traveling across state lines for the purposes of prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, §§ 2421 and 2.
If convicted on the illegal reentry charge, Facio-Santos faces a maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine. If convicted of the firearms charges, he faces 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. He faces 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each of the distribution counts. And if convicted of the prostitution charges, he faces 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.
The case was investigated by Milwaukee Police Department, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at (414) 297-1700
Keshena Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Saswaen Waukechon (age: 38), of Keshena, was sentenced on November 8, 2018 to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release after a conviction for Involuntary Manslaughter on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence was the result of a June 28, 2018, guilty plea before Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
The investigation revealed that Waukechon operated his motor vehicle while intoxicated on January 13, 2018. Waukechon drove onto the ice at Legend Lake and struck a bridge in the area of Brave Island, causing extensive damage to the passenger compartment of the vehicle and killing a front seat passenger. Analysis of Waukechon’s blood alcohol content showed that it was well over twice the legal limit at the time of driving.
In sentencing Waukechon, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense. Chief Judge Griesbach also noted there was “no excuse for this,” and stated his desire was to “deter others who callously go out and drive after drinking.” Chief Judge Griesbach also observed the impact the offense had on the victims’ family and the Menominee Indian community as a whole.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Former Menomonee Falls Resident Indicted in Federal Court with Under-Reporting $2.6 Million in IncomeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that John Miller Ragland (age: 71) formerly of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin has been charged in an indictment with four counts of tax evasion. Specifically, the indictment charges that Mr. Ragland under-reported his income during the years 2010 - 2013 by more than $2.6 million and, thereby, attempted to evade more than $750,000 in federal income taxes.
Each of the offenses with which Mr. Ragland is charged carries a maximum possible penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The matter has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs for prosecution.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely the formal method of issuing charges against an individual. A person is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, as the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Jewish Community CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Chadwick Grubbs, who is currently in state custody on separate cases, pleaded guilty today to federal charges related to threatening letters he wrote on three separate dates in May to the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Tolomeo of the FBI’s Milwaukee Division made the announcement.
Grubbs, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of mailing threatening communications and one count of threatening to injure and destroy property by fire and an explosive. Information presented during the plea hearing established that Grubbs sent three letters to the JCC in which he threatened to use firearms to cause “maximum carnage” and threatened to use explosives to destroy the JCC. In his letters, Grubbs used numbers and symbols associated with white supremacist ideology.
“Mr. Grubbs’ violent threats against the Whitefish Bay Jewish community attempted to undermine the safety and security of all community members,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute these cases vigorously so that all people, no matter their religious beliefs, can live their lives freely and without fear.”
“The freedom of religion is among our most cherished rights,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “No one should be afraid to exercise his or her religious beliefs in this country. The Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting anyone who threatens harm to someone because of their faith.”
“Protecting civil rights is one of the highest priorities of the FBI,” said SAC Justin Tolomeo. “We will vigorously investigate those who seek to intimidate with threats of violence motivated on bias against race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity, and bring them to justice.”
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker released a statement on the FBI’s 2017 Hate Crimes Statistics report, published this morning. The Acting Attorney General’s full statement reflects on the troubling increase in anti-Semitic religious hate crimes in 2017, outlined in the report.
Last month, the Justice Department launched a new comprehensive hate crimes website designed to provide a centralized portal for the Department’s hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other related organizations and individuals. More information on the website and an update on Justice Department hate crimes prosecutions can be found here.
Grubbs faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the explosives threat charge and a penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the mailed threats charges.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Haanstad of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case.
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Milwaukee Resident Convicted of Prescription Fraud and Aggravated ID Theft in Scheme to Obtain OxycodoneRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Kameka Simpson, 43, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of obtaining controlled substances (oxycodone) by fraud, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(3), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). The indictment against Simpson and others, returned by the grand jury earlier this year, was part of a larger National Healthcare Fraud and Opioid Takedown coordinated by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The indictment against Simpson and others charged multiple counts stemming from the defendants’ passing of fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions purportedly written by an authorized healthcare provider at a pain clinic in Milwaukee. Simpson, who entered her plea in district court on November 13, 2018, admitted that she used her position as an office assistant at the pain clinic to facilitate the fraud.
Simpson is scheduled to be sentenced in February. The prescription fraud count carries a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, as much as one year of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of two years, a fine of up to $250,000, as much as one year of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.
United States Attorney Krueger stated, “We must act with urgency to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. For many, the road to addiction begins with prescription drugs. That’s why we are committed to prosecuting individuals who obtain prescription drugs outside of a professional medical practice.”
The Simpson case was investigated by the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Koenig.
Information and resources concerning the opioid crisis and the DEA’s “360 Strategy” for addressing the crisis may be found at the DEA’s website, www.dea.gov
Information about “Dose of Reality,” the State of Wisconsin’s effort to prevent prescription painkiller abuse in Wisconsin is available at https://doseofrealitywi.gov
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Milwaukee Man Charged in Federal Court with Weapons Charges and Witness IntimidationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that on November 7, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Lonnie Mixon (age: 28), of Milwaukee. The indictment charges Mixon with five separate counts of illegally possessing a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 922(g) (1) and one count of witness intimidation in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(3). If convicted, Mixon faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release on each of the firearms counts and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release on the witness intimidation charge.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
The Milwaukee Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman.
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 his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Keshena Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Child on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Mario Escalante, Sr. (age: 42), of Keshena, was sentenced on November 2, 2018 to 36 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release after convictions for two counts of Attempted Abusive Sexual Contact on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence was the result of a April 11, 2018, guilty plea before Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
The investigation revealed that Escalante attempted to engage in sexual contact with a female who was under the age of 16. After the female disclosed past incidents of abuse, tribal and federal law enforcement contacted Escalante in an undercover capacity, at which time he agreed to meet the female for purposes of providing her with $60 in exchange for sex acts.
In sentencing Escalante, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense, which he described as a series of “reprehensible acts.” Chief Judge Griesbach also observed the impact the offense had on the victim, and the victims’ family. The court noted Escalante’s betrayal of the victim’s trust, and the neglect of the responsibilities Escalante had as a person who was entrusted with supervision of the victim.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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Milwaukee Man Convicted of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Special Agent-in-Charge R. Justin Tolomeo of the FBI’s Milwaukee Division announced that on October 25, 2018, Jason Michael Ludke (age: 37), of Milwaukee, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization – i.e., the Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and al’Sham (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ad-Dawla al’Islamiyya fi al-‘Iraq wa-sh-Sham, Daesh, and Dawla al Islamiya – in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339B(a)(1).
Ludke and a co-conspirator agreed that they would travel through Mexico to Syria and Iraq in order to join ISIS. Ludke arranged to do so with a man whom he believed was a member of ISIS. Ludke also recorded a video of himself pledging his allegiance to the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and stating that he was ready to join ISIS. On October 5, 2016, Ludke and his coconspirator were traveling to the Texas/Mexico border in order to accomplish their plan to join ISIS, when law enforcement located and arrested them.
Ludke has prior convictions for child sexual assault and for making death threats against a federal judge. Ludke was on probation at the time he was arrested and had cut the tracking device from his ankle before leaving Wisconsin.
United States Attorney Krueger said this conviction demonstrates the United States’ resolute commitment to protecting our country and combatting foreign terrorism. Individuals like Ludke who seek to provide material support to ISIS will be held accountable. Krueger commended the excellent work of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force in securing this conviction.
“The FBI’s number one priority is protecting Americans from terrorism,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Justin Tolomeo. “I commend our Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes our local, state and federal partners, for their investigative efforts in identifying and arresting Jason Ludke that prevented him from joining the ISIS terror group.”
Ludke faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a maximum term of supervised release of five years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Kanter and Benjamin Taibleson and Trial Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman of the Department’s Counterterrorism Section.
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Cudahy Man Sentenced in Green Bay Federal Court on Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 29, 2018, Adam J. Westphal, also known on-line as “daddyinyouagain” (age: 41) of Cudahy, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by Chief District Judge William C. Griesbach. Additional charges of distribution of child pornography and child enticement were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
In March of 2018, a Winnebago County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigator began an on-line conversation with an individual utilizing the screen name of “daddyinyouagain.” The investigator subsequently discovered that “daddyinyouagain” was, in fact, Adam J. Westphal. Westphal believed he was corresponding with a 34 year-old mother of a 14 year-old daughter who like himself possessed an interest in child pornography, when in actuality he was instant messaging the ICAC investigator. Westphal began sending the investigator numerous images and videos of child pornography while engaged in sexual conversations centered around the molestation of children. Of particular concern to law enforcement were Westphal’s repeated references to his plans and desires to sexually abuse specific minor relatives.
In early April, Westphal proposed to the investigator that he drive to Neenah, Wisconsin, to meet with the fictitious woman’s 14 year-old child for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse. He further proposed that they produce a video of the sexual encounter with the intent of sharing it on the internet. On April 5, 2018, Westphal arrived at the agreed upon location in Neenah and was promptly taken into custody by law enforcement.
In handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the “very serious nature of the crime” and stated that the defendant’s actions “cried out for justice.” In addition to the 15 year prison sentence, he ordered Westphal to spend 15 additional years on supervised release upon his discharge from federal prison. He will also have to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the West Allis Police Department. 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 further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, (414) 297-1700
United States Attorneys Jointly Announce Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
United States Attorneys Scott C. Blader of the Western District of Wisconsin and Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that they have appointed Assistant United States Attorneys to lead the efforts of their respective offices in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the November 6, 2018, general election.
AUSA Dan Graber has been appointed to serve as the Election Officer for the Western District of Wisconsin, which covers Madison and approximately the western 44 counties of the state. AUSAs Zachary Corey and Christopher Ladwig have been appointed to serve as the Election Officers for the Eastern District, which covers Milwaukee and approximately the eastern 28 counties of the state. As Election Officers, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, these AUSAs are responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of voting rights abuses and election fraud in their respective districts.
“Our system of government is premised upon free, open and fair elections,” said United States Attorney Blader. “The Justice Department will act promptly to protect the integrity of the election process, ensuring that every citizen has the right to vote – and have their vote counted. “
United States Attorney Krueger added, “The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy. We are committed to ensuring that those who seek to interfere with that cherished right are brought to justice.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights abuses or election fraud on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the Election Officers will be on duty in their districts while the polls are open. AUSA Graber can be reached by calling (608) 250-5468. AUSA Corey can be reached by calling (414) 297-1083, and AUSA Ladwig can be reached by calling (414) 297-4103.
In addition, the FBI will have Special Agents available in each Field Office and Resident Agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The FBI in Madison can be reached by calling (608) 833-4600. The FBI in Milwaukee can be reached by calling (414) 276-4684.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.
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Appleton Man Indicted on Firearm and Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 10, 2018, a two-count federal indictment was issued against Craig R. Webb (age: 42) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Craig R. Webb possessed in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the controlled substance and did so while in the possession of a firearm, contrary to Title 18 United States Code, Section 924(c). If convicted of the charges alleged, Webb faces a mandatory 15 year prison sentence and up to a life sentence. Webb will be arraigned on October 19, 2018, in Green Bay federal court.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case was investigated by the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, (414) 297-1700
Algoma Sex Offender Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 10, 2018, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Sean R. Evansen (age: 35) of Algoma, Wisconsin.
According to the indictment, between June 6, 2018, and September 13, 2018, Evansen received and possessed images of child pornography including images of children under 12 years of age. The indictment further reflects that Evansen was convicted on June 19, 2000, in Calumet County Circuit Court, for the crime of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child.
Evansen faces one charge of receipt of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2), and possession of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(5)(b). He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 40 years of incarceration in federal prison. He is scheduled for arraignment in Green Bay federal court on October 17, 2018.
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s ICAC Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Manitowoc Man Indicted on Firearm and Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 12, 2018, a three-count federal indictment was unsealed against Anthony C. Moore (age: 32) of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Anthony C. Moore possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the controlled substance and did so while in the possession of a firearm, contrary to Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). It further alleges that Moore’s status as a convicted felon prohibited him from ever possessing a firearm pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Moore faces a mandatory five-year prison sentence and up to a life sentence, if convicted of the charges alleged.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Manitowoc County Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Unit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 3, 2018, Oscar Chaves (55 years old) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced in Federal Court to 40 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5). After his release from prison, Chaves will spend 5 years on supervised release.
Chaves used the Gigatribe computer program to access and download child pornography, as well as to engage in highly sexualized chats with other users about their affinities for child pornography. Gigatribe is a peer-to-peer file-sharing network that establishes private network connections between users. FBI agents investigating child pornography crimes on Gigatribe obtained and executed a search warrant at Chaves’s residence in Milwaukee. During the search, FBI agents found computers, removable hard drives, and DVDs that together contained more than 6,000 images and videos of child pornography.
While handing down the sentence, United States District Judge Pamela Pepper emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the importance of protecting children from sexual exploitation. Judge Pepper noted that victims of child sexual abuse continue to suffer knowing that people like Chaves actively seek out and collect images of their abuse.
This case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin W. Proctor.
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 Dean Puschnig at (414) 297-1700
United States Attorney Krueger Announces Progress in Making Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger explained today that throughout the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Every resident of our District deserves to live in a safe community,” United States Attorney Krueger said. “We recognize that reducing violence requires a comprehensive approach that involves all parts of our community. Through the PSN program, we are committed to working together with federal, state, local, and community partners to use all available tools to make our neighborhoods safer.” United States Attorney Krueger highlighted some of the District’s PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
A central focus of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prosecute the most violent groups and individuals who use firearms to commit crimes:
- On January 18, 2018, Joel Rivera was sentenced to 36 years of imprisonment for committing two armed business robberies in the City of Milwaukee. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, which is a collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Milwaukee Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-36-years-federal-prison-armed-robberies
- On April 29, 2018, Otis Hunter was sentenced to a mandatory 107 years of imprisonment for committing three armed business robberies and two armed carjackings in Milwaukee. His co-actor was sentenced to a mandatory 32 years for committing two of those robberies. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-107-years-prison-five-armed-robberies
- On May 15, 2018, Elix Powell and Antonio Jamerson were charged with the armed robbery of the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy in the City of Wauwatosa. If they are convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/two-men-indicted-federal-court-armed-robbery-wauwatosa-pharmacy
- On June 26, 2018, seven defendants were charged in a sixteen count indictment alleging, among other charges, a conspiracy to distribute heroin. On August 7, 2018, eight defendants were charged in a twenty-one count indictment for conspiring to distribute heroin as well. The arrest of these fifteen defendants in these two cases led to the recovery of fifteen firearms. The charges resulted from long-term federal, state and local drug investigations, including the Milwaukee Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”), the United States Marshals Service, the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, the West Allis Police Department and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/eight-milwaukee-defendants-charged-federal-court-heroin-conspiracy
- On August 1, 2018, Jimmy Desotell was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm in Brown County and other communities in Northeastern Wisconsin. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) and the Brown County Drug Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/green-bay-man-receives-15-year-sentence-methamphetamine-distribution-and-firearm-charge
- On September 18, 2018, Nickie Foster, Marquel Johnson, and Martell Ford were indicted for committing a series of seven armed robberies of taxi cab drivers and gas station employees in the Milwaukee area. If convicted of all counts at trial, the defendants will face significant mandatory minimum sentences. They will also face a maximum of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/three-indicted-robberies-taxi-cab-drivers-and-gas-station-employees
Another significant aspect of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prevent violent crime by prosecuting the illegal proliferation of firearms. Intelligence from ATF and other local law enforcement partners allows criminal investigators to focus their efforts on finding, and ultimately prosecuting, unauthorized firearm dealers and straw purchasers of firearms. For example, on September 18, 2018, Rachel Morzfeld was indicted for falsely claiming that she purchased five firearms for herself, when, in fact, it is alleged that she purchased the firearms for others in Union Grove, Wisconsin. In addition, Federal and state prosecutors regularly communicate to determine the best venue to prosecute individuals who possess firearms illegally.
Community Partnerships
In addition to efforts to prosecute violent offenders, district-based police and prosecutor teams work with community organizations to restore properties to their highest quality, assist residents and business owners in creating and enforcing positive neighborhood norms, and create neighborhood crime-reduction plans focused on prevention of gun violence.
PSN is also focused on positive prisoner reentry, which consists of regular face-to-face call-ins of individuals aged sixteen to twenty-six who recently were released from local, state, or federal correctional institutions. Notification sessions are organized and facilitated by community-based agencies that provide trauma-informed and healing-focused care to those involved in the criminal justice system. The program ensures connections to critical assistance and support to the returning offenders and community resources and services.
Yesterday, October 2, 2018, a Reentry Summit was hosted in Kenosha, featuring inspirational messages from previously incarcerated individuals on how to set returning citizens up for success through healing and right partnerships. The Summit also included networking events to introduce prospective employers to agencies that help prepare formerly incarcerated individuals for the world of work. A similar event was hosted in November 2017 in Milwaukee and was attended by 435 individuals.
Improvements to Community Safety
- The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
- The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
- From October 1, 2017, to September 17, 2018, Milwaukee County law enforcement agencies have recovered 2,872 firearms.
- Homicides in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 8%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of homicides committed a year ago at this time.
- Non-fatal shootings in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 16%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of non-fatal shootings a year ago at this time.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Menominee and Oneida Tribes Receive Federal Grants from the Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin joined the Department of Justice in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This includes four grants totaling $2,934,228 to the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and two grants totaling $507,684 to the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. The Menominee Indian Tribe received funding for Community Policing, Violence Against Women, Substance Abuse, and Victim Assistance. The Oneida grants were for Alcohol / Substance Abuse and Youth Programs.
United States Attorney Matthew Krueger stated "Native Americans suffer from violent crimes at far too high of rates. These grants underscore the Department of Justice's commitment to working together with Native American communities to reduce such violence."
Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance. Recipients will be announced in the near future.
“With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues. We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”
CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs. CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.
The grant announcements are part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: www.justice.gov/tribal/page/file/1095161/download.
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Three Indicted on Robberies of Taxi Cab Drivers and Gas Station EmployeesRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 18, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a fifteen-count Indictment against Nickie M. Foster (age 22), Marquel L. Johnson (age 24), and Martell D. Ford (age 27), charging them with a series of robberies of taxi cab drivers and gas station employees between August 22, 2018, and August 25, 2018. All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Nickie M. Foster and Marquel L. Johnson are each charged with committing four robberies of taxi cab drivers, in violation of the Hobbs Act, and using, carrying, brandishing, and sometimes discharging a firearm during those robberies. Both women are charged with the robbery of the Petro Mart on Chase Avenue in Milwaukee and the discharge of a firearm during the robbery of Petro Mart. Martell D. Ford is charged with one taxi cab robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. Both Ford and Johnson are also charged with the attempted robbery of BP Gas Station on Plankinton Avenue in Milwaukee and the brandishing of a firearm during that attempted robbery.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, the defendants face up to twenty years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine as to the conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and each of the Hobbs Act robberies. Each of the brandishing of a firearm counts involves a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life in prison and the counts of discharging of a firearm involve a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years with a maximum of life in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. Convictions of any second or subsequent of the firearms counts carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years, consecutive to any other sentence.
With respect to the taxi cab robberies, the criminal complaint filed in this case alleged that on August 22 and August 23, 2018, Foster was the passenger in several taxi cabs when she brandished a firearm and demanded money and other items from the drivers. During the course of these robberies, Foster pointed a silver handgun at the taxi cab drivers, and, on at least one occasion, discharged the firearm after leaving the taxi cab. During the Petro Mart gas station robbery on August 23, 2018, Foster entered the Petro Mart with Marquel Johnson. Foster brandished a silver handgun and proceeded to shoot the gas station employee in the head. Foster then emptied the cash from the register while Johnson took possession of the firearm and pointed it toward the gas station employee, who was on the ground. On August 25, 2018, Johnson and Ford entered the BP gas station. Johnson pointed a silver handgun at the clerk and demanded money. The clerk locked the doors to the store, trapping Johnson in the store. Eventually, Johnson was able to exit the store. Later that day, after engaging in a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement, Johnson was arrested. Police officers recovered a silver handgun from Johnson when she was arrested.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is 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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Wisconsin Man in State Custody Indicted for Hate Crime by Threatening Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay, WisconsinRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury in Wisconsin returned an indictment charging Chadwick Grubbs, 33, with obstruction and attempted obstruction of the free exercise of religious beliefs, by mailing threats on three separate dates in May to the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay. In addition to three religious obstruction charges, the indictment also charges Grubbs with three counts of mailing threatening communications and one count of threatening to injure and destroy property by fire and an explosive.
The defendant is currently being held in state custody on separate cases.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Haanstad of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer, Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Green Bay Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl, Resulting in One Death and Two OverdosesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that a federal jury had convicted David Shanks, 37, of Green Bay, of conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, conduct which resulted in death. As a result of his conviction and two prior felony drug convictions, Shanks faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The jury also convicted Shanks of five other drug-related counts, including distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of heroin/fentanyl/methamphetamine resulting in death, and distribution of heroin/fentanyl resulting in substantial bodily injury to two overdose victims.
The trial evidence established that between August and October 2017, Shanks was the leader of a conspiracy involved in the daily sale of heroin, laced with fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Shanks’s sale of heroin/fentanyl resulted in the overdose death of one individual on Sept. 10, 2017. Shanks also was responsible for overdoses by two individuals on Sept. 22, 2017. Fortunately, paramedics and law enforcement were able to provide lifesaving assistance to both individuals. Cooperating witnesses testified that Shanks was responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine in the greater Green Bay and Iron Mountain, Michigan, areas. Witnesses described seeing Shanks with baseball-sized quantities of heroin and $5,000 stacks of money generated by his drug sales.
United States Attorney Krueger stated, “This case demonstrates the devastating impact the sale of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine has on communities and families across Wisconsin and across the country. Federal, state, and local law enforcement remain committed to doing everything possible to hold those responsible for this devastation accountable.”
The following agencies participated in the investigation: Brown County Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Green Bay Field Office, Green Bay Police Department, and Green Bay Fire Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Zachary Corey.# # #
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer, Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Man Convicted at Trial of ATM Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger has announced that on September 11, 2018, a jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin convicted Ionel Muresanu, 18, of multiple offenses involving the possession and use of counterfeit debit cards. Muresanu was convicted of Possession of 15 or More Counterfeit Access Devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1029 (a)(3), and three counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation 18 U.S.C. Section 1028A (1). He faces a possible sentence of up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the possession count and an additional two years in prison for each of the identity theft counts.
According to the trial testimony, Muresanu, along with a juvenile companion, was involved in an ATM skimming scheme, wherein they placed “skimmers” and pinhole cameras at ATM machines to capture account and personal identification numbers of unknowing customers. The information was transferred to the magnetic stripes of generic gift cards, which the two then used to steal money from the customer accounts.
Muresanu was arrested on May 16, 2018, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin by detectives from the Oshkosh Police Department. They investigated based on a tip from Tennessee law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Muresanu was in possession of 80 counterfeit cards. An additional 14 cards were recovered from the juvenile and six more cards were recovered at an Oshkosh store where the two were observed using the cards at an ATM.
In statements to the police that were presented at trial, Muresanu admitted that he had placed skimming devices and pinhole cameras on ATM machines in Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, and Kansas City, Missouri. After the devices had captured account holder data, he removed them and gave them to another individual who loaded the customer information onto the magnetic stripes of the generic gift cards. Muresanu and others then used the cards to steal money from unknowing customer accounts in various states. Muresanu said that with one batch of cards he was able to steal as much as $30,000. He told authorities that after leaving Oshkosh, he planned to travel to Louisville, Kentucky.
United States Attorney Krueger commended the law enforcement agencies for excellent work in the investigation of these offenses. “ATM skimming is a serious offense. These identify theft crimes have serious consequences for both unknowing account holders and the financial institutions that maintain their accounts,” Krueger said.
Judge J.P. Stadtmueller, who presided over the case, has set sentencing for December 13, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. In addition to the Oshkosh Police Department, the case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Wauwatosa Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karine Moreno-Taxman and Carol L. Kraft.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Nicholas Rivecca, Sr., and Sonag Ready Mix, LLC to Pay $629,732 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Disadvantaged Business EnterprisesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Nicholas Rivecca, Sr., of Hartland, Wisconsin, and his company, Sonag Ready Mix, LLC, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have agreed to pay $629,732 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by defrauding the United States Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program.
The DBE program provides small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts. At the time of the alleged fraud, Rivecca was an owner of Sonag Ready Mix, and Sonag Remedy Mix was not eligible to participate in the DBE program. The government alleges that Rivecca and others conspired to obtain fraudulently DBE certification for another entity, Nuvo Construction Company, Inc. Rivecca and others then used Nuvo’s improper DBE certification to obtain ready-mix concrete contracts based on the false representation that Nuvo provided ready-mix concrete independently when, in truth, Sonag Ready Mix and its employees performed almost all of the work. All of the profits from Nuvo’s ready-mix concrete contracts, moreover, passed through to Sonag Ready Mix (and, ultimately, to Rivecca and his co-owner).
In a related criminal case, Case No. 18-CR-64, Rivecca pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to use Nuvo’s DBE status to win government-funded contracts. This settlement resolves related civil allegations that Rivecca and Sonag Ready Mix caused the submission of false claims to the government and thus improperly obtained government funds. As a result of the settlement, the federal government will receive $629,732.
United States Attorney Krueger stated: “This settlement reflects our commitment to protecting federally funded programs from fraud. Firms that seek public funds must understand that cheating and lying to win government-funded contracts will not be tolerated.”
“Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) fraud harms the integrity of the DBE program and law-abiding contractors, including many small businesses, by defeating efforts to ensure a level playing field in which all firms can compete fairly for contracts,” said Thomas J. Ullom, Regional Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General. “Our agents will continue to work with Federal, State, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to expose and shut down DBE fraud schemes that adversely affect public trust and DOT-assisted highway programs throughout Wisconsin and elsewhere.”
FBI Special-Agent-in-Charge R. Justin Tolomeo added: “The FBI is proud to be part of the continued interagency collaboration on this matter, and appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that led to this settlement.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service will investigate all allegations of abuse related to Government set aside programs designed to encourage and support veteran, woman and minority owned small businesses. DCIS will pursue all appropriate criminal, civil and administrative actions against individuals who abuse these programs for illicit financial gain, stated John F. Khin, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Field Office.”
The civil matter is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Carter. The following agencies are participating in the investigation: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Investigations Division; Defense Contract Audit Agency; and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig (414) 297-1700
United States Attorney's Office, HSI, and FBI to Host Human Trafficking Training for Foreign DignitariesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that a special Human Trafficking Training Program will be held on September 10-11, 2018 at the Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave. Members of the United States Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI will be training prosecutors and law enforcement officers from Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. The training will address the best practices for prosecuting Human Trafficking crimes, ways to assist crime victims, the importance of partnering with other agencies, and other topics.
The media is invited to attend the opening ceremony on Monday, September 10, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Welcoming remarks will be provided by United States Attorney Matthew Krueger, Resident-Agent-in-Charge Brandon Bielke of Homeland Security Investigations, and Special-Agent-in-Charge Justin Tolomeo of the FBI. Opening remarks will last approximately 30 minutes. After the opening remarks, members of the press will have an opportunity to interview the speakers and members of the foreign delegation.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at (414) 297-1700
Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Child Sex Offenses; Faces Mandatory Life SentenceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 28, 2018, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Brian D. Wickersham (age: 58) of Merrill, Wisconsin.
Wickersham faces charges alleging he attempted to coerce or entice a minor child to engage in illicit sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). He is further charged with transporting the minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a). Wickersham was previously convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Due to this conviction he is a lifetime sex offender registrant under the laws of Wisconsin. As such, he faces a third charge for the commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sexual offender contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A. If convicted of the charges, Wickersham faces a mandatory life sentence.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Green Bay office of the F.B.I. It will be 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.
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.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig (414) 297-1700
Mequon Business Owner Charged with Filing False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that federal charges had been filed against Randy D. Usow (age 62) of Mequon, Wisconsin. Usow is charged with theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. The United States also filed a plea agreement it had reached with Usow under which he will plead guilty to these charges.
Usow, who operated an accounting business in Mequon known as Randy Usow Accounting, Inc., prepared and filed state and federal tax returns for third parties. The charges against Usow are based on his preparing and filing of false tax returns for one of his clients and his wife in which Usow fraudulently claimed refunds the clients were not entitled to and then diverting the fraudulent refunds to himself.
To conceal his activity, Usow provide the clients with a different version of the tax returns that reflected the correct refund the clients were entitled to.
To facilitate his theft, Usow opened a bank account in the name of his client without the client’s knowledge or consent. Usow then directed the IRS to send a fraudulent refund to this account. After receiving the refund, Usow transferred a portion of the refund to a second bank account he had opened in the name “US Government, LLC.” Usow then used this account to pay the clients the smaller refund the clients were expecting.
During the period from April 2011 through May 2015, Usow filed at least four false federal income tax returns, fraudulently seeking more than $800,000 in federal income tax refunds and diverted those funds to himself.
Usow faces a minimum of two years in prison, and up to 12 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, as well as having to pay restitution to the United States.
This matter was investigated by the Criminal Investigation of the Internal Revenue and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs for prosecution.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
Keshena Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that Ricki A. Mahkimetas, Jr. (age: 25), of Keshena, was sentenced on August 22, 2018 to 200 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release after a conviction for Abusive Sexual Contact on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence was the result of a June 1, 2018, guilty plea before Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.
The investigation revealed that Mahkimetas, an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, engaged in sexual contact with a Native American female who was under the age of 12. Mahkimetas caused the girl to have contact with his penis for the purpose of his own sexual gratification. Further investigation led to the discovery of at least two other Native American females under the age of 12 with whom Mahkimetas engaged in sexual contact.
In sentencing Mahkimetas, Chief Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the offense, which he described as “horrendous.” Chief Judge Griesbach also observed the impact the offense had on the victims’ families and the Menominee Indian community as a whole. The court also noted Mahkimetas’ abuse of trust, of both the child victims and their parents.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at 414 297-1700
Manager of Appleton Business Pleads Guilty to Failure to Provide IRS with Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that Kurt Van Voorhis (Age 52) of Hilbert, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and pleaded guilty to violating federal tax law. Specifically, Van Voorhis, who is the manager and operator of Ultimate Cleaning Limited, a commercial cleaning business located in Appleton, Wisconsin, admitted that, during the period from January 2012 through June 2016, he failed to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service federal more than $200,000 in payroll taxes that had been withheld from the wages of employees of Ultimate Cleaning. Van Voorhis also failed to file quarterly payroll tax returns during this period.
Van Voorhis faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, as well as having to pay the unpaid taxes. Van Voorhis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2018.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs.
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Eight Milwaukee Defendants Charged in Federal Court with Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that the following eight defendants, each of Milwaukee, were arrested and indicted this week by a federal Grand Jury with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin:
James Harris (Age: 52)
James Coleman (Age: 60)
Nequann Terry (Age: 24)
Todd McGown (Age: 50)
Casey Johnson (Age: 52)
Don Tillman (Age: 49)
Antoine Jeff (Age: 41)
Roderick Ramsey (Age: 32)
This charges resulted from a long-term federal, state, and local drug investigation into heroin trafficking in Milwaukee. If found guilty, each defendant will face up to twenty years in prison.
Yesterday, law enforcement officers arrested all eight of the above defendants. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officers executed 11 federal search warrants in Milwaukee targeting members of this organization. Law enforcement recovered heroin, 11 firearms, approximately $30,000 in United States currency, and multiple vehicles. Numerous federal, state, and local officers participated in these arrests and search warrants.
In announcing the federal charges, searches, and arrests, United States Attorney Krueger stated: “The fight against heroin is a matter of life and death. This take-down reflects the commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to stop the flow of heroin into our communities.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo stated, “The FBI’s Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Gang Task Force continues to conduct impactful operations. These actions significantly disrupted the flow of heroin poisoning our community. Through our law enforcement partnerships we remain committed to targeting violent gang members and making our communities safer.”
The investigating agencies include the Milwaukee Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, United States Marshals Service, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, and Wauwatosa Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Ladwig.
An indictment is merely the formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Racine Woman Indicted for Defrauding Beneficiaries of Estates Being Administered by her Father's Law FirmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger has announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Kathleen A. Fetek (age 55) for executing a scheme to defraud beneficiaries of estates being handled by Fetek Law Offices, S.C., a firm that had been operated by Fetek’s father in Racine, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that beginning by 2014, and continuing through at least January 2017, while employed at the firm, Fetek: (1) wrote checks to herself from the firm’s account; (2) cashed the checks at banks, liquor stores, and other locations; and (3) prepared and mailed materially false distribution summaries and account documentation to beneficiaries. The indictment alleges that as a result of the scheme, Fetek wrongfully obtained in excess of $775,000.
If convicted of the offense charged in the indictment (mail fraud), Fetek would face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Fetek also would face up to three years of supervised release following any prison term and would be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of her offense.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling for prosecution.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Green Bay Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Dealing and Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that Damien D. Gambrell (age: 37) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced on August 3, 2018 in federal court in Green Bay for conspiracy to distribute heroin and enticement of another to travel in interstate commerce to engage in a prostitution act. Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Gambrell to a ten year term of imprisonment on the drug conspiracy charge and a ten year term of imprisonment to run concurrently on the enticement charge. Judge Griesbach also gave Gambrell credit on the ten year prison term for time Gambrell spent in state and federal custody leading up to the sentencing. Judge Griesbach placed Gambrell on supervised release for ten years following his term of imprisonment. Because of the enticement conviction, Gambrell is also required to register as a sex offender.
Gambrell was sentenced following his earlier guilty plea to the drug conspiracy charge that included distribution of over 100 grams of heroin and also involved the distribution of heroin leading to an overdose death. While investigating the heroin overdose case, Green Bay Police recovered text messages and telephone calls consistent with Gambrell enticing and soliciting adult women to engage in prostitution acts in the greater Green Bay area as well as Chicago, Illinois. Police also found several adult women who confirmed that Gambrell enticed and persuaded them to engage in sexual acts for money. Gambrell supplied some of these women with heroin and had them assist with heroin sales.
In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Griesbach stressed the tragic nature of the case including the accidental overdose deatjh, and the impact it had on his family and community in general. Further, Chief Judge Griesbach stated Gambrell’s exploitation of drug addicts and adult women for his financial gain warranted a lengthy sentence and should deter others from committing a similar offense.
This case was investigated by the Green Bay Police Department, Brown County District Attorney’s Office, and Brown County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Roach.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Green Bay Man Receives 15 Year Sentence for Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 1, 2018, Jimmy L. Desotell (age: 26) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring in Northeast Wisconsin and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that distribution.
In the Spring of 2017, Desotell was involved in a conspiracy that resulted in pounds of methamphetamine acquired from a source in Phoenix, Arizona, being distributed in Brown County and elsewhere in Northeast Wisconsin. The evidence showed that Desotell possessed a firearm while distributing the methamphetamine, resulting in an additional charge.
In pronouncing sentence, Chief U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Desotell’s crimes and the negative effect that methamphetamine has had on the community. The judge told Desotell that it was past time for him to “grow up,” noting his extensive prior criminal record. He informed Desotell that his crimes called for a strong sentence. Following his release from prison, Desotell will serve 8 years on federal supervised release.
Desotell was the last of eight individuals involved in the conspiracy to be sentenced by Judge Griesbach in federal court.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brown County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
Ten Defendants Charged in Nationwide Marijuana and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that the following ten defendants have been charged in federal court with offenses related to nationwide conspiracies to distribute marijuana and commit money laundering:
Name
Age
Residence
Robert K. Malkin
62
Oxnard, CA
Seth C. Jacobs
28
Alexandria, VA
Lev B. Reys
38
Valley Village, CA
Jason J. Malkin
31
Los Angeles, CA
Mohammed E. Omar
35
Springfield, VA
Alae Arbi
28
Alexandria, VA
Nahom Hagos
29
Alexandria, VA
Fredric H. Birault
85
Valencia, CA
Lachelle Cook
31
Milwaukee, WI
The defendants currently reside in Milwaukee, Virginia, and California. This case is a part of a long-term nationwide federal drug and money laundering investigation.
The defendants are charged with drug and money laundering offenses, including: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If proven that the drug conspiracy involved in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana, the defendants charged with drug offenses will face up to forty (40) years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years in prison. The defendants charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering face up to twenty (20) years in prison.
Last week law enforcement officers arrested nine of the above defendants. Seth C. Jacobs remains at large. In addition to last week’s arrests, law enforcement officers executed two (2) federal search warrants in Milwaukee, eleven (11 ) search warrants in Virginia, ten (10) search warrants in California, and one search warrant in Washington, D.C., targeting members of this organization. Law enforcement recovered approximately $1.75 million in U.S. currency, two firearms, seven vehicles, marijuana, and other assets. Approximately 125 federal, state, and local officers participated in these arrests and search warrants.
In making today’s announcement about the federal charges, searches, and arrests, United States Attorney Krueger stated: “Drug-traffickers are motivated by money, pure and simple. These charges reflect our commitment to working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to seize drug money and prosecute drug crimes aggressively.”
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agent in Charge Joel L. Lee stated: “The highly successful outcome in this case came as a direct result of the tremendous partnership and teamwork shared with the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation and as well as contributing local counterparts. Communities in several states to include Wisconsin are better off with the dismantling of this criminal operation.”
Milwaukee Drug Enforcement Administration Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell, Jr. commended the collaborative and purposeful approach by state, local and federal law enforcement. “This investigation exemplifies multiple law enforcement agencies collaborating to fight the ongoing drug threat in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration is committed to working with our law enforcement partners and this case is a true reflection of those partnerships,” remarked Maxwell.
“A great group effort by federal, state, local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies has led to the disruption of yet another drug trafficking organization,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel. “We have made the community safer by working together to get drugs, guns, and money out of the hands of criminals.”
The defendants were charged after a lengthy investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, along with the Milwaukee Police Department, North Central HIDTA, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Milwaukee Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Financial Investigators. The case was also supported by the Los Angeles HIDTA, City of Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Shasta County Sheriff’s Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, Fairfax County Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, Virginia State Police, Northern Virginia HIDTA, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition, the case was supported by the United States Attorney Offices in the Central District of California, Eastern District of Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Monfils and Gail J. Hoffman.
A criminal complaint is merely the formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig (414) 297-1700
United States Attorney Krueger Statement Regarding Death of Milwaukee Police Officer Mike MichalskiRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Matthew D. Krueger offered these condolences regarding Milwaukee Police Officer Mike Michalski who was killed in the line of duty yesterday: “Our hearts break for the fallen officer, together with his family, friends, and each member of the Milwaukee Police Department. He selflessly dedicated himself to protecting our community, and his service will not be forgotten.”