Western District of Wisconsin
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Chippewa County Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Patrick J. Buswell, 51, Holcombe, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Buswell pleaded guilty to these charges on January 16, 2026. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On June 15, 2025, Buswell led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour on his motorcycle. After reaching a dead end, Buswell continued to flee on foot. When arrested, he was found with over 50 grams of methamphetamine in his pockets, along with $1,600 in cash. In a small cooler in his motorcycle, law enforcement found a loaded firearm, baggies containing additional controlled substances, and digital scales.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson evaluated Buswell’s actions in this case along with his lengthy criminal history. Judge Peterson recognized the need to protect the community from Buswell’s dangerous behavior, including his history of fleeing law enforcement. He urged Buswell to take advantage of prison substance abuse programming.
The charges against Buswell were the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Rusk County Sherriff’s Office, Chippewa County Sherriff’s Office, West Central Drug Task Force, Clark County Sherriff’s Office, and the Ladysmith Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Madison Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dejaun Angelo, 23, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 years in federal prison for possessing marijuana intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Angelo pled guilty to this charge on November 19, 2025.
In June 2025 the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip indicating that Angelo’s “X” account posted racist and violent threats to kill Jews and African Americans. Police obtained a search warrant for Angelo’s near eastside Madison apartment and found numerous marijuana compounds including approximately 19.5 pounds of marijuana, 423 grams of hashish, and 1,500 grams of hashish oil. Police also found numerous firearms in the apartment and hundreds of ammunition boxes in Angelo’s rented storage unit. The investigation determined that Angelo operated a cannabis company and regularly sold marijuana in the community.
At Angelo’s sentencing, Judge Conley expressed profound concern over Angelo’s hateful online comments and noted that it was fortunate police stopped him “before he went further.”
The charge against Angelo was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leo Lacey, 48, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 64 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Lacey pleaded guilty to this charge on January 5, 2026. The prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.
Lacey is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions. On May 21, 2025, Lacey arranged for codefendant Garrett Waldinger to illegally straw purchase a Taurus 9mm handgun for Lacey. The next day, an individual reported that Lacey had threatened him with a handgun.
Based on the reported gun offense, on May 23, 2025, an Eau Claire police officer attempted a traffic stop on Lacey. Lacey initially pulled over but then fled. Lacey led police on a high-speed chase before ultimately crashing into another vehicle and fleeing from the vehicle on foot. Officers eventually located Haney and recovered the handgun Waldinger had purchased for him.
At the sentencing, Judge Peterson said that Lacey is dangerous, and that the primary goal of the sentence in this case was to protect the public.
Codefendant Garrett Waldinger pleaded guilty to straw purchasing the firearm and is scheduled for sentencing on April 1, 2026.
The charges against Lacey and Waldinger were the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Reedsburg Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Chrystal D. Mueller, 41, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mueller pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2025.
Between January 14, 2022, and April 8, 2022, Mueller and others worked together to distribute fentanyl pills in Wisconsin. The drugs would be sent from California and mailed to residences associated with Mueller, who would then distribute them locally. Mueller would get a discount on the fentanyl for her part in the conspiracy.
In rejecting her request for a probationary sentence, Judge Peterson noted that Mueller participated in the conduct for almost two years and brought her then-significant other into the conspiracy.
Kenneth O. Phillips, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the local leader of the group, was sentenced on November 21, 2025, to six years in prison. Brandon Stevens, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to a year and a day in prison. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels containing drugs that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller.
The investigation determined that a total of 19 parcels were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April and found they contained fentanyl pills.
Another individual in the conspiracy, Ames Basham, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on April 7, 2026.
The charges against Mueller were the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nicholas J. Fisher, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Fisher pleaded guilty to this charge on December 19, 2025.
On May 3, 2025, law enforcement arrested Fisher on a probation warrant. Upon searching his vehicle, they discovered approximately 1,322 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug-dealing paraphernalia.
At the sentencing, Judge Peterson considered that Fisher had a decades-long history of criminal conduct but also that his crimes were primarily driven by his addiction and did not involve violence.
The charge against Fisher was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 4 Years for Cocaine Distribution and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Travis L. Ingram, 38, Mosinee, Wisconsin, was sentenced on March 12, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 52 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine, maintaining a drug trafficking premises, and money laundering. Ingram pleaded guilty to these charges on December 16, 2025.
During a two-year investigation, police informants purchased cocaine from Ingram on multiple occasions. At the end of the investigation, police seized over a pound of cocaine, a scale, and other evidence of drug dealing from Ingrams’s home pursuant to a search warrant. Further investigation revealed that Ingram laundered over $ 1 million in illegal drug proceeds during a six-year period through bank accounts and casinos.
At the sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Ingram dealt a substantial amount of cocaine in the Marathon County area. Judge Conley further emphasized that Ingram escalated his drug trafficking activities despite two prior convictions for the same crime. Judge Conley found it disturbing that Ingram conducted drug trafficking in front of minors.
The charges against Ingram were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Fitchburg Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kavant Smith, 25, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on December 15, 2025. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On January 27, 2025, Smith was the sole occupant and driver of a vehicle stopped by Fitchburg police. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 9mm handgun with a partially obliterated serial number under the passenger seat. While Smith denied knowing anything about the gun, a later DNA analysis concluded that Smith’s DNA was on swabs taken from the trigger, handle, and slide of the handgun. Smith is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson remarked that Smith’s criminal history was an aggravating factor as he had two other gun related offenses. Smith was on state probation for a felon in possession conviction at the time of the federal offense. Smith also has a prior felony conviction that involved him committing a robbery with another suspect who was armed.
The charge against Smith was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Madison Felon Charged With Resisting Arrest, Drug and Gun Crimes
Daquan Thompson also charged with damaging law enforcement vehicle
Daquan Thompson, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with damaging government property, forcibly resisting a federal law enforcement officer; methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The indictment alleges that on February 24, 2026, Thompson resisted, opposed, impeded, and interfered with Deputy Marshals of the United States Marshals Service during an arrest. The indictment also alleges that Thompson used his legs and feet to cause over $1,000 in damage to a vehicle belonging to the United States Marshals Service. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Thompson illegally possessed a Glock 23 handgun as a felon, possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine intended for distribution, and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
If convicted of the methamphetamine trafficking charge, Thompson faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, Thompson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking charge carries a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the charge involving cocaine. Finally, he faces a maximum of 1 year in prison for resisting and impeding, and a maximum of 10 years for damaging the government vehicle.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, FBI, and the Monona Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Glinzak is handling the case.
Rice Lake Man Charged With Distributing Child Pornography
Jenson Clements, 20, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing child pornography. The indictment alleges that he distributed two images of child pornography on May 17, 2025.
If convicted, Clements faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Wausau Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rice Lake Police Department, and the Barron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case .
This investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
Madison Man Charged with Cocaine Trafficking
Christian Garrett, a.k.a. “Tone,” 26, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing cocaine base intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that on February 25, 2026, Garrett possessed approximately 280 grams or more of cocaine base intended for distribution.
If convicted, Garrett faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Madison Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Distributing Cocaine
Damien J. Thomas, 43, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine. The indictment alleges that Thomas distributed the cocaine on August 22 and August 30, 2022.
If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dane County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.
Dunn County Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Andrew V. Johnson, 30, Menomonie, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Johnson possessed a Ruger 9mm pistol and Ruger 9mm ammunition on October 22, 2025 .
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Menomonie Police Department, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Minnesota Man Charged With Traveling in Interstate Commerce for Purpose of Illicit Sexual Conduct With a Minor
Creighton Mithaugen, 37, Faribault, Minnesota, is charged with traveling in interstate commerce to have illicit sexual conduct. The indictment alleges that on February 13, 2026, Mithaugen traveled to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
If convicted, Mithhaugen faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Rhinelander Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
This investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
La Crosse Man Charged with Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl
Jerome Sinclair, 35, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine and fentanyl and maintaining a premises for drug distribution. The indictment alleges that Sinclair distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on October 13 and November 10, 2025, and distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine on November 4, 2025. The indictment alleges that Sinclair maintained a drug premises from November 4, 2025, to December 17, 2025.
If convicted of the charges involving distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Sinclair faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The remaining drug distribution charge and the maintaining a drug involved premises charge each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison.
The charges against Sinclair are the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as a defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Michigan Man Charged With Posting Threats To Kill ICE Agents
Justin P. Ward, 33, Ironwood, Michigan, is charged with using interstate commerce to transmit threats to injure another person. The indictment alleges that on January 29, 2026, Ward posted threats to kill ICE agents on Facebook.
If convicted, Ward faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the FBI; Minnesota State Patrol; Saint Paul, Minnesota Police Department; and the Gogebic County Michigan Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is currently handling the case.
La Crosse County Man Charged With Possessing Child Pornography
William J. Clark, III, 40, Mindoro, Wisconsin, is charged with possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that on January 22, 2026, Clark possessed child pornography on a Samsung cellphone.
If convicted, Clark faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office and the Coulee Region Children’s Internet Protection Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
This investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
Fitchburg Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Cordero C. Coker, 38, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that on November 13, 2025, Coker possessed a 9 mm Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition.
If convicted, Coker faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Monona Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg is handling the case.
Sauk County Man Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking
Deandre Templeton, 42, Baraboo, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing fentanyl intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that on July 30, 2025, Templeton possessed approximately 174 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution.
If convicted, Templeton faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Sauk County Drug Task Force; the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office; the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Davoris Anderson, 20, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Anderson possessed the firearm and ammunition on December 11, 2025.
If convicted, Anderson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
The drug and gun cases in the press release are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Former La Crosse Mail Carrier Sentenced for Opening and Destroying MailRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ashley Straub, 25, Onalaska, Wisconsin, was sentenced February 5, 2026, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita M. Boor to one year of probation and a $500 fine for opening and destroying mail. Judge Boor also ordered Straub to pay restitution to the known victims.
Straub worked as a mail carrier at the La Crosse Post Office. In February 2025, Straub opened numerous items of mail and stole $350 in cash and several gift cards.
At the sentencing, Judge Boor noted that theft by mail carriers erodes trust in the United States Postal Service. In selecting an appropriate sentence, Judge Boor balanced Straub’s harm to the community with her lack of criminal history.
The charge against Straub was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the La Crosse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Samuel and Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case.
Minocqua Man Sentenced to over Five Years for Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cory Kromray, 39, Minocqua, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5 years and 8 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an investment fraud scheme. Kromray pleaded guilty to these charges on November 7, 2025. As part of his sentence, Kromray was ordered to pay $828,266.71 in restitution to the victims of the fraud scheme.
"I applaud the investigative work of the agents in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “Fraud schemes like this one are devastating to victims. The sentence sends a strong message that this office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who defraud others.”
The government’s investigation revealed that Kromray used social media and other online communications to falsely portray himself as a successful trader in stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, and the foreign currency exchange market (forex). Kromray also used social media to display his wealth allegedly acquired from trading, including images or references to expensive watches, a large home, tropical vacations, and exotic sports cars.
During meetings with investors or potential investors, Kromray often bragged about his success as a trader and would often drive expensive vehicles to the meetings, including a 2022 Lamborghini Urus and a 2022 McLaren 720S. Kromray would falsely claim that investors could expect a monthly rate of return of approximately 4% to 8%, with the potential of earning up to 30% a month. Kromray falsely told at least one investor that he was a top 1% trader in the Midwest. Kromray falsely told another investor that he could guarantee a 100% return on their investment.
Despite his promises to investors to use their money for legitimate investments and provide them returns, Kromray often used investor money to pay his personal expenses. Kromray also provided some investors with false information about the success of their investments, including providing fictitious account statements that showed the investors’ supposed current portfolio balance. By providing fictitious account statements, Kromray intended to lull investors into believing that he was actively trading their funds.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley stated that Kromray’s investment fraud scheme was “the worst kind of fraud that can be committed,” because he took money from his close friends and lied to them about investing it. Judge Conley noted that Kromray worked hard to dupe investors by portraying a “fantasy luxury life,” including buying high-end cars like Lamborghinis and McLarens. Judge Conley noted that Kromray would often meet face-to-face with his investors and “flat out lie” to them about “things that were demonstrably false” and provide them with “pie in the sky promises.” Judge Conley also noted that Kromray poses a substantial risk of reoffending when he is released from prison because his statements at sentencing sounded like he was still in denial about his crimes. Judge Conley concluded that “if there is a more heinous white-collar crime, I don’t know what it is.”
The charges against Kromray were a result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edward L. Jackson, III, 29, Rothschild, Wisconsin, was sentenced January 8, 2026 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine intended for distribution, and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jackson pleaded guilty to these charges on September 29, 2025.
On May 20, 2024, the Wausau Police Department was dispatched to a residence for reports of a domestic incident involving Jackson. A short time later, Jackson’s vehicle was located at a nearby residence. After a K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in Jackson’s vehicle, his car was searched. During the search, police found a backpack belonging to Jackson containing 105 grams of methamphetamine, 247 pills containing fentanyl, and a loaded firearm.
Jackson is prohibited from legally possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that a substantial sentence was warranted because Jackson was a danger to the community due to his history of drug dealing and frequent possession of firearms.
The charges against Jackson were the result of an investigation conducted by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, the Wausau Police Department, the Mountain Bay Metro Police Department, and the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.
Chippewa Falls Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shaun Ciokiewicz, 39, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced February 2, 2026 by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 8 years in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Ciokiewicz pleaded guilty to this charge on October 27, 2025.
In November and December 2024, officers with the West Central Drug Task Force received information that Ciokiewicz was selling methamphetamine. He was stopped by police on his way to a suspected drug transaction and arrested on active warrants.
While searching Ciokiewicz upon his arrest, officers found a baggie with 5.5 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket. In the vehicle, officers found a bag with 55 smaller baggies containing 193.2 grams of methamphetamine.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted the amount of drugs discovered in the traffic stop was “just a sample” of Ciokiewicz’s overall distribution. In arriving at an 8-year sentence, Judge Peterson commented that Ciokiewicz wasn’t a “benign meth user,” instead Ciokiewicz’s behavior had escalated to “really serious behavior” that presented a danger to the community.
The charge against Ciokiewicz was the result of an investigation conducted by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the West Central Drug Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Chadwick M. Elgersma Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of WisconsinRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma has been appointed as United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Chief U.S. District Court Judge James D. Peterson signed the order on January 22, 2026.
“I am honored to serve as United States Attorney,” said Mr. Elgersma. “I thank the Court, President Trump, and Attorney General Bondi for the trust they placed in me, and I pledge to work closely with my federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Elgersma will be responsible for overseeing federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States in the Western District of Wisconsin. The Western District of Wisconsin encompasses the western 44 counties in Wisconsin.
Chief Judge Peterson’s order can be found in the News & Announcements section of the district court’s website located at www.wiwd.uscourts.gov.
Florida Man Sentenced for Misrepresenting Indian Produced GoodsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Farinango Muenala, 47, Casselberry, Florida, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026, to misrepresenting Indian produced goods. Following the guilty plea, Farinango Muenala was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 years of probation and a $25,000 fine.
In January 2023, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received complaints that a man with the business name Southwest Expressions was going to art shows and misrepresenting that the jewelry he was selling was handmade by Pueblo Indians. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service subsequently launched an investigation and identified the man as Farinango Muenala.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that since 2012, Farinango Muenala had attended dozens of art shows as a vendor, including the 2023 Loon Day Festival in Mercer, Wisconsin. At these shows, Farinango Muenala misrepresented himself as a Pueblo or a Native American from New Mexico. He also misrepresented that the jewelry he sold was handmade by himself or other Pueblo Indians, when in fact, the jewelry was mass produced and imported from the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2023, Farinango Muenala’s business Southwest Expressions made 40,905 individual sales, and grossed over $2,686,000.
At sentencing, Judge Conley emphasized that for years, Farinango Muenala profited by regularly and intentionally misrepresenting the jewelry that he sold. Judge Conley also acknowledged the significance of the statute Farinango Muenala violated, noting it was meant to protect Native Americans.
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a truth in marketing law,” said the Board’s Director Meridith Stanton. “The IACA is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of counterfeits to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople, and their Tribes, as well as the buying public. Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next. The defendant in this case falsely claimed to be a third-generation jewelry maker from the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico while he sold imported Philippines jewelry as authentic Indian made across several states. These sales of fake Indian art tear at the very fabric of Indian culture and undercut the marketability of the creative work of federally recognized Tribes.”
U.S. Attorney Elgersma and Director Stanton praised the collaboration between IACA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and thanked all those who helped bring Farinango Muenala’s conduct to light. Both stressed that his prosecution sends a strong message that violators of the IACA will be held accountable.
The charges against Farinango Muenala were the result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nathan Hendrickson, 37, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced on January 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10 years in prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Hendrickson pleaded guilty to this charge on October 30, 2025.
In September 2024 and January 2025, officers with the West Central Drug Task Force received information that Hendrickson was selling pounds of methamphetamine. Officers conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Hendrickson on January 16, January 24, and February 12. When officers searched Hendrickson’s apartment on February 12, they found approximately 678 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, $2,987 cash, and drug paraphernalia.
At sentencing, Judge Conley expressed concern that Hendrickson’s “criminal conduct has been escalating.” In deciding to impose a 10-year sentence, Judge Conley weighed the fact that Hendrickson had previously served only short state sentences against his now “substantial methamphetamine distribution.”
The charge against Hendrickson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Chippewa County, Dunn County, Eau Claire County, and Buffalo County Sheriffs’ Departments, the Eau Claire Police Department, the West Central Drug Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Three-Time Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 20 Years for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stephen Hans Jenkins, a.k.a. BMO, 40, Trempealeau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 246 months in federal prison for transporting child pornography. The prison term will be followed by a lifetime-period of supervised release. Jenkins pleaded guilty to this offense on October 28, 2025.
Jenkins was a long-time family friend of Minors A, B, and C. Eventually, Jenkins began sexually assaulting Minor A. One-night, Minor A was looking at Jenkins’s iPad and found explicit images of Minor B and Minor C. Minor A then reached out to family members for help. Agents ultimately executed a search warrant at Jenkins’s home in Trempealeau County and an analyst found hundreds of sexually explicit images of minors.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that the defendant was in a position of trust for all his victims and used the position to “groom” and exploit them. Judge Conley called the defendant a serial predator who was calculated, manipulative, and a danger to minors.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, it is common for producers of child pornography to groom victims or cultivate a relationship with a child and gradually sexualize the contact over time. The grooming process fosters a false sense of trust and authority over a child to desensitize or break down a child´s resistance to sexual abuse.
“Jenkins is a repeat child sex offender who represents a profound ongoing danger to children,” said Interim U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “Our office is dedicated to prosecuting anyone who creates and circulate depictions of child sexual exploitation and violence.”
Prior to assaulting Minors A, B, and C, Jenkins was convicted of groping a 10-year-old boy and convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
In announcing the sentence, Interim U.S. Attorney Elgersma commended the outstanding efforts and coordination of the FBI, Trempealeau Police Department, Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and the Ogden, Utah, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
Interim U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To commemorate the month and continue to raise awareness about this important issue, Interim U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma reaffirmed his office’s commitment to fight against human trafficking by bringing traffickers to justice, dismantling human trafficking networks, assisting trafficked victims, and enhancing public awareness through community outreach.
“Working with our law enforcement and community partners, we will continue to raise awareness and shine a light on all forms of human trafficking,” said Interim U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “My office will continue to identify and prosecute those who use fraud, force, and coercion to profit from the exploitation of others.”
Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Under federal law, methods of coercion include physical or nonphysical (for example, psychological, financial, and reputational), as well as using or threatening to use a legal process in an inappropriate manner. The exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion is used by the trafficker.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages victims to come forward. If you, or someone you know, has been made to engage in prostitution, unwanted sex acts for money, drugs, or any items of value, or forced labor, help is available. There are advocates committed to help you find support and resources. There are local, state, and federal law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating human trafficking. There are prosecutors who will work with law enforcement to hold traffickers accountable.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing anti-trafficking efforts have resulted in many prosecutions that have led to convictions and prison sentences. Recent notable sentencings and guilty pleas include:
United States v. Austin Koeckeritz. On April 11, 2024, Koeckeritz of River Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and a life-term of supervised release for one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Between August 2020 and August 2022, Koeckeritz used violence, threats of violence, emotional manipulation, isolation, and surveillance to compel an adult victim to perform commercial sexual acts online between eight and 12 hours a day, six days a week. Koeckeritz controlled and maintained all proceeds made by the adult victim from this online commercial sex work. Between October 2021 and January 2022, Koeckeritz also recruited a minor to engage in commercial sex acts and promote the adult victim’s online commercial sex work. He also caused the minor victim to engage in sexual acts that he photographed with the intent to sell them online. As part of his sentence, Koeckeritz was ordered to pay over $400,000 in restitution.
United States v. Raymond Armour. On October 29, 2024, Armour was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for two counts of transporting an individual across state lines with the intent to engage in prostitution. His prison sentence will be followed by a term of 20 years of supervised release. Raymond Armour encountered two minors, ages 14 and 15, in Dubuque, Iowa, and drove them across the state lines to his residence in Cassville, Wisconsin. Armour posted photos of the victims on online platforms, offering for them to engage in various sexual services in exchange for money.
United States v. Dwayne “Swag” Davis. On January 12, 2026, Davis pled guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. According to court documents, Davis recruited a 16-year-old minor to engage in commercial sex acts for him in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Davis utilized online platforms to offer the minor victim for commercial sexual activities in exchange for money. Davis arranged for the minor to be transported to these meetups. Davis kept control of all the money that was paid for the sexual acts. The penalties for this charge are a mandatory minimum of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
How to Report Human Trafficking
If you believe you or someone else are the victim of human trafficking or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888
Specialists are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also send a text to 233733 or start a live chat or submit a tip online at humantraffickinghotline.org.
Texas Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marcos Gonzalez, 62, Los Fresnos, Texas, was sentenced January 8, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 188 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Gonzalez pled guilty to this charge on October 21, 2025.
Between December 2023 and June 2024, Gonzalez served as the leader of a conspiracy that trafficked more than thirty kilograms of cocaine from the southern border to Dane County, Wisconsin. As part of the conspiracy, Gonzalez arranged for the cocaine to be smuggled from Mexico into southeast Texas. From there, Gonzalez arranged for a courier to transport the cocaine to coconspirator Ernesto R. Abeyta in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
Judge Peterson explained that he imposed a significant sentence because of the “very aggravated” nature of Gonzalez’s offense. Judge Peterson noted that Gonzalez not only trafficked a large quantity of cocaine, but he also had a clear connection to a large criminal enterprise in Mexico. Judge Peterson also expressed concern that Gonzalez was “a committed recidivist,” since this was his third federal drug conspiracy conviction. Gonzalez previously served twenty-two years in federal prison for a 1995 conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine conviction. In 2003, while serving that sentence, Gonzalez was convicted for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, for trying to smuggle marijuana into a federal prison.
“Gonzalez is a career drug trafficker who leveraged his Mexican cartel connections to sell pounds of cocaine across the United States, including here in Dane County,” said Acting United States Attorney Elgersma. “Today’s sentence not only ensures significant prison time for the leader of a drug organization, but it also sends a message that the United States Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are committed to using every legal tool available to disrupt and dismantle terrorist organizations that profit from addiction and violence. I commend everyone who played a role in bringing Gonzalez to justice.”
On November 6, 2025, Judge Peterson sentenced coconspirator Ernesto R. Abeyta to nine years in federal prison for his role in the cocaine trafficking operation.
The charge against Gonzalez was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sherriff’s Office, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Madison Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of federal law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Texas Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Donald Spivey, 43, Spring, Texas, was sentenced January 16, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 9 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Spivey pleaded guilty to this charge on October 27, 2025.
On November 30, 2021, an inspector from the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious parcel sent from Houston, Texas to an address in Verona, Wisconsin, which was associated with Spivey. The inspector searched the parcel pursuant to a federal warrant and found approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
As the investigation continued, law enforcement officers identified an apartment in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where Spivey stored his drugs. On April 6, 2023, investigators obtained a search warrant for the apartment and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, $5,160 in cash, multiple cell phones, a heat sealer, shipping material, a digital scale, and a drug press. Numerous text messages on Spivey’s phones revealed his involvement in drug trafficking.
Spivey waived his rights and admitted to mailing the two kilograms of cocaine seized on November 30, 2021. Spivey further confessed to regularly trafficking cocaine from Texas to Wisconsin.
As part of the investigation, investigators also searched the residences of coconspirators Shelby Longino and Darnold Thomas. Inside Longino’s house, investigators found 183 grams of fentanyl pills, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and $22,878 in cash. During the search of Thomas’s house, investigators seized two kilograms of methamphetamine.
At Spivey’s sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Spivey was responsible for bringing a significant amount of cocaine into the community. Judge Conley found that a lengthy sentence was warranted.
On August 29, 2025, Thomas pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge Conley sentenced Thomas to 90 months in prison on December 11, 2025.
On July 31, 2025, Longino pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Judge Conley sentenced Longino to five years in prison on October 29, 2025.
The charges against Spivey, Thomas, and Longino were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of federal law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $4 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma announced today that the Western District of Wisconsin collected $4,172,836 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $3,269,903 was collected in criminal actions and $902,933 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Wisconsin worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $58,199 in criminal actions pursued jointly by these offices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma thanked the dedicated attorneys and support professionals who work on collection and forfeiture matters in the Western District of Wisconsin, “Their diligent efforts have been instrumental in upholding the law, holding wrongdoers accountable, and recovering funds for victims of crime.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Wisconsin, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $414,632 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Madison Man Sentenced to over Seven Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Violating Terms of Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Francesco Anglin, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on January 9, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 63 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 24 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervision for a previous federal firearm conviction. Anglin pleaded guilty to the felon in possession offense on October 24, 2025.
On March 15, 2025, a Maple Bluff police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle fled and ultimately crashed in downtown Madison with the two occupants running from the scene. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9mm handgun. They also found Anglin’s cell phone with a lock screen photo of him pointing a black firearm at the camera.
On April 24, 2025, a Madison police officer stopped Anglin’s vehicle and located a loaded privately made firearm in the glovebox. Anglin had previously posted photos to his Facebook account showing him in possession of that privately made firearm.
Anglin was on federal supervised release at the time of these offenses, after serving 43 months for a prior felon in possession conviction. In that case, Anglin asked a female to purchase a handgun for him. At the time, he was already convicted of a felony offense and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. While on supervised release, for that offense, Anglin escaped from a prison facility, was charged, convicted, and sentenced to eight months in prison.
At sentencing the government argued that Anglin was a significant danger to the community and was not deterred by previous prison sentences. The government also noted the many images that Anglin posted on Facebook showing him in possession of firearms and making threatening comments.
At sentencing Judge Peterson found that Anglin had been a failure on supervised release and that he presented a significant danger to the community. Judge Peterson said that Anglin was resistant to intervention by federal probation officers who were tasked with helping him, and that carrying a gun presented an extreme risk to those officers. Judge Peterson noted that there was strong evidence that Anglin was always armed, and that he was intent on intimidating others and inciting violence by his social media posts. Judge Peterson concluded that Anglin needed to be removed from the community and sent a significant message that his gun crimes would not be tolerated.
The charge against Anglin was the result of an investigation conducted by the Maple Bluff and Madison Police Departments, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Madison Man Sentenced to Five Years for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jevon Smith, 31, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 60 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on October 22, 2025.
On June 15, 2025, Fitchburg police officers found Smith sleeping in a car in the parking lot of McKee Farms Park. Officers searched Smith’s car and found a loaded Glock 29 10mm handgun with a machinegun conversion device attached to it. In 2019, Smith was convicted of heroin trafficking, eluding an officer, and recklessly endangering safety. As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
A machinegun conversion device is an illegal device that can be attached to handguns to allow them to fire fully automatic. Machinegun conversion devices are also known as “switches” and pose an extreme risk to the community.
At sentencing Judge Peterson considered Smith’s past convictions and said that he was on a bad trajectory. Judge Peterson also noted that Smith was on bond for a pending drug trafficking case at the time he committed the current federal offense. Judge Peterson ordered Smith to serve three years of supervision following his release from prison.
The charge against Smith was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments this week. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Madison Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Johnell L. Britt, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that on December 11, 2025, Britt possessed a Glock 19 Gen5 9mm caliber pistol and 9mm ammunition.
If convicted, Britt faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison .
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
Illinois Man Charged With Drug Distribution
Kendrick Payton, 30, Rockford, Illinois, is charged with distributing controlled substances. The indictment alleges that Payton distributed heroin on December 18, 2024, and cocaine on February 18, 2025. The indictment further alleges that Payton distributed 40 grams or more of fentanyl on January 6, 2025, January 10, 2025, and February 18, 2025.
If convicted, Payton faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison for each of the charges involving fentanyl. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the charges involving cocaine and heroin.
The charges against Payton are the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Glinzak is handling the case.
The cases in the press release are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Announces Grants Available to Combat Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Acting United States Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma announced that today U.S. Department of Justice grants are currently available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations. The grants are being made available through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.
For more information on program criteria and how to apply, please visit https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov. For more information about application deadlines or to see all available funding opportunities from the Office of Justice Programs, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities. Please note that you must have active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov before you can apply for Department of Justice funding opportunities.
Grant Opportunities Available
Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will provide for transitional housing and supportive services that assist human trafficking victims in moving as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieving stability. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will support programs to enhance the availability, quality, and delivery of services tailored to the developmental stages and needs of young (minor) victims of human trafficking. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Preventing Trafficking of Girls: This funding will develop or enhance prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking. Funding will be provided for activities such as street outreach, partnerships with organizations that serve youth, partnerships with juvenile justice and child welfare systems, and/or collaboration with other key community stakeholders. Eligible applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Specialized Human Trafficking Assistance: Supporting Survivor Engagement in Anti-Trafficking Programming: This funding will assist OVC-funded anti-trafficking grantees in ensuring meaningful engagement with and successful outcomes for survivors of human trafficking. The program will help build capacity to identify and partner with survivors in their local community, state, or region. Eligible applicants are educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking: This funding will support jurisdictions to develop and expand a multidisciplinary, collaborative task force approach to better respond to human trafficking through increased victim identification, service provision, and case investigations. Eligible applicants are government entities and nonprofit organizations.
Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will develop, enhance, and coordinate programs and activities geared toward improving outcomes for child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking. The program supports a statewide or Tribal jurisdiction-wide strategic plan addressing challenges related to identifying and serving child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking, as well as identifying, investigating, and prosecuting traffickers. Eligible applicants are government entities.
Services for Victims of Human Trafficking: This funding will develop, expand, and strengthen victim service comprehensive and specialized services programs for victims of all forms of human trafficking. Eligible Applicants are government entities, educational organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public housing organizations.
Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 5 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tyreese Taylor, 43, Machesney Park, Illinois, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 54 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine. Taylor pleaded guilty to this charge on October 1, 2025. Taylor was also sentenced to an additional 12 months and one day in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervised release.
In 2019, Taylor was released from prison following a federal drug trafficking conviction and began his first term of supervised release. In 2021, he was sent back to prison for violating the terms of his supervised release by selling drugs. In 2024, Taylor was again released from prison and began his second term of supervised release. On April 24, 2025, police searched a residence frequented by Taylor and found several ounces of cocaine, a digital scale, assorted other drugs, and drug packaging. Police also found Taylor’s car keys and more than $4,000 in U.S. currency containing prerecorded police money from prior drug transactions. Taylor was arrested the same day during a traffic stop in Beloit.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that Taylor was attracted to the lifestyle of dealing drugs despite having legitimate job opportunities. Judge Conley also found that Taylor seemed likely to reoffend given his prior history.
The charge against Taylor was the result of an investigation conducted by the Beloit Police Department and Rock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving narcotics are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wausau Man Charged with Possessing Child Pornography
Brett Hart, 23, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on December 2, 2025, Hart possessed a hard drive containing child pornography.
If convicted, Hart faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Glinzak and Elizabeth Altman are handling the case.
Lac Du Flambeau Man Charged with Straw Purchasing Firearm
Alizay Doss, 27, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, is charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on March 4, 2025, Doss made a false statement to a licensed firearm dealer while purchasing a firearm. Specifically, he represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearm when in fact he purchased the firearm for another individual.
If convicted, Doss faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charges against Doss are the result of an investigation conducted by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Lac du Flambeau Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Billy D. Shell, Jr., 28, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that on April 12, 2025, Shell possessed a 9mm handgun.
If convicted, Shell faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Ammunition and Unregistered Silencers as a Convicted Felon
Christopher Perrote, 39, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing unregistered silencers. The indictment alleges that on August 27, 2024, Perrote possessed ammunition and two unregistered silencers after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.
If convicted, Perrote faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the ammunition charges, and 10 years in prison on the silencer charges.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, the FBI, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Fitchburg Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition
Owen Roberson, 20, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that on September 29, 2025, Roberson possessed a Glock 21 firearm loaded with .45 caliber ammunition. The indictment further alleges that on September 28, 2025, Roberson possessed an Anderson Manufacturing AM 15 rifle.
If convicted, Roberson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case.
The firearms cases in the press release are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Repeat Offender Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Violating Terms of Federal SupervisionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kordarow Moore, 36, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 9 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervision for a previous federal drug trafficking conviction. Moore pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge on September 12, 2025.
On September 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer stopped Moore’s car for speeding on Interstate 94 in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Moore was driving 101 miles per hour, which is more than 30 miles per hour over the legal limit. Moore was later arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Officers searched the car following Moore’s arrest and found a loaded AK-47 style rifle under the front passenger seat. The firearm had an extended magazine that contained approximately 40 rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated that the type of firearm possessed by Moore posed a deadly threat to others and went far beyond a need for personal protection. Further, Judge Conley emphasized that it was inexplicable that Moore would possess a firearm, let alone this type of firearm, while under the Court’s supervision for another federal offense and while intoxicated.
The charge against Moore was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Reinhard and Kathryn Ginsberg Ostrow prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Wausau Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Christopher Harter, 49, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Comley to 7 years in federal prison for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Harter also pleaded guilty to this charge yesterday.
In February 2025, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force identified Harter as a heroin dealer in the Wausau, Wisconsin, area. Investigators also determined that Harter frequently traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to purchase heroin that he would then sell in the Wausau area.
On March 7, 2025, investigators stopped a car in which Harter was a passenger as it returned to Wausau from Milwaukee. Investigators located 80.3 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture in Harter’s pocket. Investigators executed a search of Harter’s apartment on the same day. There, investigators located more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a drug ledger, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted Harter’s long-standing history of selling drugs and prior convictions for drug related conduct. Judge Conley also noted that Harter continued to degrade his community by selling drugs.
The charges against Harter were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving narcotics are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jontrae Larsen, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Larsen pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2025.
On January 6, 2024, witnesses to a vehicle crash observed Larsen flee from one of the vehicles involved in the collision. Law enforcement eventually found Larsen and a Glock 17, Gen 5 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber. The firearm was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Larsen’s DNA was recovered on multiple parts of the firearm, and law enforcement also found evidence of Larsen’s gun possession on his phone.
A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.
Larsen has a prior state conviction for first degree recklessly endangering safety. As a convicted felon, Larsen is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson expressed disappointment that Larsen returned to criminal behavior so soon after he was released from state prison, and he attributed Larsen’s return to crime to negative social influences and a lack of maturity. Judge Peterson found Larsen’s possession of a machinegun particularly concerning due to Larsen’s history of impulsive decisions, terrible judgment, and substance abuse. Judge Peterson said a substantial sentence was also warranted given the automatic firing capacity of the firearm.
The charge against Larsen was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Two Sauk County Men Sentenced for Roles in Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that in separate sentencings, two men have been sentenced for their roles in a fentanyl pill trafficking group operating in Sauk County and surrounding areas.
Kenneth O. Phillips, 40, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was sentenced on Friday, November 21, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to six years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by four years of supervised release. Phillips pleaded guilty to this charge on September 5, 2025.
Brandon S. Stevens, 44, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced November 20 by Judge Peterson to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Stevens pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2025.
The investigation revealed that a co-defendant, Ames Basham, was mailing parcels containing fentanyl pills from California to Kenneth Phillips, another co-defendant Chrystal Mueller, and Brandon Stevens at various addresses in Wisconsin for local distribution. The pills were blue and marked “M30,” which should have been prescription Oxycodone pills. In fact, the pills contained fentanyl and other substances. Nineteen parcels of fentanyl pills were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The USPIS intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April and found they contained fentanyl pills.
Phillips was identified as the local leader of the group. He provided addresses to Basham, who in turn mailed the drug laden parcels to Wisconsin. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels mailed by Basham that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller. He also identified an abandoned residence on his mail route where drug parcels could be mailed. Phillips and Mueller sold the fentanyl pills locally.
At the time of these offenses, Phillips was on state supervision for a battery conviction.
At Stevens’s sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that while Stevens was the least culpable of the group, he played a significant role in the drug trafficking and his conduct was a gross violation of the trust placed in him as a mail carrier.
At Phillips’s sentencing, Judge Peterson found that Phillips was in charge of the group and noted that the crime was very serious because of the dangers of introducing counterfeit OxyContin pills containing fentanyl into the community.
Two others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Co-defendants Ames Basham and Chrystal Mueller have both pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in the coming months.
The charges against Stevens and Phillips are the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Minocqua Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Corey Kromray, 40, Minocqua, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on November 7, 2025, in federal district court in Madison to wire fraud and money laundering in connection to his long-term investment fraud scheme.
At the plea hearing, Kromray admitted that between September 2018 and March 2025, he used social media and other online communications to falsely portray himself as a successful trader in stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, and the foreign currency exchange market (forex). Kromray also used social media to display wealth he allegedly acquired from trading, including images or references to expensive watches, a large home, tropical vacations, and exotic sports cars. During meetings with investors, Kromray told them that they could expect a monthly rate of return of approximately 4% to 8%, with the potential of earning up to 30% a month.
Instead of investing money as promised, Kromray often used investor money to pay his personal expenses. He also provided some investors with false information about the success of their investments, including sending fictitious account statements with inflated portfolio balances. Investors lost more than $800,000 as a result of Kromray’s conduct.
At the plea hearing, Kromray admitted that he laundered proceeds from his wire fraud scheme, including using $50,000 in investor funds to make a payment on a 2022 Lamborghini Urus.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and the maximum penalty for money laundering is 10 years in prison. Kromray will also be ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing before the Honorable William M. Conley is scheduled for February 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
The charges against Kromray were a result of an investigation led by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Sentenced to Six Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Terrance Moore III, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 21, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Moore pled guilty to this charge on September 3, 2025.
On July 8, 2024, Madison police officers were monitoring an impromptu street party just off the Capitol Square in downtown Madison. Officers looked inside Moore’s parked car and saw an AR-style rifle sticking out from under the front passenger seat. Moore was arrested and during a search of the vehicle, officers also found a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, marijuana, and oxycodone pills in a backpack on the driver’s seat. Moore’s DNA was later identified on the handgun. At the time, Moore was on state probation for three prior illegal firearms possession cases. Moore is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of these, and other prior felony convictions.
At Moore’s sentencing, Judge Conley expressed serious concern that this was Moore’s fourth time in front of a court for possessing a firearm as a felon. Judge Conley found that a significant sentence was necessary given Moore’s prior criminal history.
The charge against Moore was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Corporation and Former Chief Executive Officer Sentenced for Health Care Fraud and Tax ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KBWB Operations LLC, doing business as Atrium Health and Senior Living (KBWB-Atrium), and Kevin Breslin, former chief executive officer and managing member of KBWB-Atrium, were sentenced yesterday, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin following prior guilty pleas to health care fraud and tax conspiracy related to the operation of numerous skilled nursing facilities, the Department of Justice announced.
Kevin Breslin, 58, of Hoboken, New Jersey, was sentenced to 90 months in prison and ordered to pay $146 million in restitution and $8.4 million in forfeiture. KBWB-Atrium also was ordered to pay the same restitution and forfeiture amounts. Breslin pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024. KBWB-Atrium pleaded guilty on Jan. 21. According to court documents, Breslin is one of six owners of KBWB-Atrium. KBWB-Atrium’s corporate headquarters was located in Little Falls, New Jersey, and its Midwest corporate office was located in Appleton, Wisconsin. KBWB-Atrium operated and/or owned nursing facilities in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
“Health care fraud drives prices up for all Americans and can cause serious negative outcomes for patients,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We remain dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable Americans from those who would take advantage of them.”’
“Protecting Medicare and Medicaid is not just about preserving the programs. It is about safeguarding the dignity, health, and financial security of the millions of Americans who rely on them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. “I commend the investigators and prosecutors who identified Mr. Breslin’s fraud scheme and worked tirelessly to hold him accountable for his serious criminal conduct.”
“Today’s sentencing underscores an investigative priority of the FBI,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. “The FBI, in collaboration with its partners have not lost sight of investigating people and companies that misuse taxpayers’ money for personal gains and at the expense of people needing quality healthcare. The safety and well-being of Wisconsin residents remains our highest priority.”
“The defendant’s actions not only defrauded federal health care programs but also jeopardized the well-being of vulnerable nursing home residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Chicago Region. “HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who exploit programs meant to provide essential care and services to our nation’s most at-risk populations.”
“Greed was the driving force behind this scheme, which not only defrauded our health care system but also violated employment tax obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “By failing to pay over withheld taxes, the defendants harmed their employees’ Medicare and Social Security benefits — while also exploiting healthcare programs meant to protect the most vulnerable.”
“Health care and the health benefit plans that provide coverage are of the utmost importance in everyday lives,” said Regional Director Mark Seidel of the Employee Benefits Security Administration in New York. “The Employee Benefits Security Administration remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who break the law and abuse their positions of trust while managing health benefit plans.”
On Feb. 1, 2023, a grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against Breslin and KBWB-Atrium charging health care fraud and tax conspiracy, among other charges. According to court documents, from approximately Jan. 1, 2015 to in or about September 2018, KBWB-Atrium operated 23 skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin. Breslin was solely responsible for KBWB-Atrium’s management, operation, business, and finances. The primary source of income for the KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin facilities was federal Medicare and Medicaid funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The government alleged that the defendants unlawfully diverted CMS funds intended for the operation, management, maintenance, and care of the residents at the KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin facilities for personal expenses and other purposes. The government further alleged that the defendants prioritized multi-million-dollar owner distributions and guaranteed payments regardless of KBWB-Atrium’s financial situation. The government alleged that the defendants knowingly and willfully failed to disclose to CMS that they were not using CMS funds for resident care, were not in compliance with applicable federal regulations and laws, and had not paid vendors or certain federal and state taxes. As a result, the government alleged, vendors went unpaid and residents did not receive adequate care.
The government alleged that the defendants also diverted health insurance premiums and 401(k) contributions from employee paychecks, as well as money from resident accounts. The government further alleged that as part of the tax conspiracy, Breslin, acting on behalf of KBWB-Atrium, directed that employment taxes withheld from KBWB-Atrium employees’ paychecks not be paid to the IRS, which caused employees to prepare inaccurate tax returns listing those withholdings.
Trial attorneys with the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin investigated and initially prosecuted the case with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations, Milwaukee Field Office; the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, New York and Chicago Regional Offices; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Field Office; and the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit.
Wausau Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Johntay L. Johnson, 40, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 years in federal prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and distributing cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty to these charges on July 1, 2025.
In December 2023, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force identified Johnson as a cocaine trafficker operating out of Wausau, Wisconsin. Between January and July 2024, a confidential informant purchased two ounces of cocaine from Johnson on seven occasions, with six of the controlled buys occurring at Johnson’s home in Wausau.
On September 10, 2024, while executing a search warrant at Johnson’s residence in Wausau, officers located three firearms, cocaine, and marijuana in Johnson’s bedroom. A fourth firearm was recovered in a second bedroom. Officers also discovered over $13,000 in cash, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia in the residence. Two of the firearms seized had previously been reported stolen.
At the time of the search warrant, Johnson was arrested on an outstanding warrant in an unrelated state case. He was charged in state court for the guns and drugs found in his home and released on a cash bond two days later. Two weeks later, and while out on bond, Johnson sold an ounce of cocaine to a confidential informant and then did so again in late November 2024.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Johnson’s cocaine trafficking was aggravated by multiple factors, including his possession of multiple firearms, his quick return to drug dealing after being arrested in the middle of this investigation, and his lengthy criminal record that includes five prior convictions for cocaine trafficking.
The charges against Johnson were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving drugs and guns are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Menomonie Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Demetrius Howard, 34, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Howard pleaded guilty to this charge on June 24, 2025.
On December 20, 2024, a deputy with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office stopped Howard’s vehicle for speeding. After further investigation, the deputy searched the vehicle and found a bag in the backseat that contained a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun. Howard told the deputy that he would have fled if his child was not in the car and further commented that there could have been a “shootout.” Howard claimed that he found the gun by a dumpster the day before and was going to throw it into the water.
Howard has a prior state conviction for party to the crime of armed robbery. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson found it unlikely that Howard found the gun by a dumpster. Howard then admitted that was not true and that he actively sought out the gun due to threats he was receiving. Judge Peterson reminded Howard that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and said that the crime was aggravated because Howard was on supervision at the time.
The charge against Howard was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Administrator of Online Group Dedicated to Exploiting Minor Girls Sentenced to 22 YearsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thomas Ray Hudson, 34, most recently of Grenada, Mississippi, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 22 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. The prison term will be followed by a lifetime period of supervised release. Hudson pleaded guilty to this charge on June 10, 2025.
In August of 2024, Hudson flew to Minnesota to meet a 13-year-old girl in Burnett County, Wisconsin, whom he was speaking with online. That attempt was thwarted when he could not find her home and got stranded in Minneapolis. Through a law enforcement tip, he was later identified, charged, and arrested. His electronics were searched, and multiple additional victims were identified. Law enforcement ultimately discovered that Hudson was an online administrator of a group with hundreds of members, dedicated to child exploitation. He was also involved in online groups where adult members threatened violence against minor girls who did not create sexually explicit material for the members of the group.
At the sentencing hearing, a relative of one of the child victims, who described Hudson as a “monster,” talked about the devastating emotional impact the crime had on the child and her family. She relayed that the child was now afraid to even go outside out of fear that Hudson was coming to get her. Judge Peterson called Hudson’s conduct cruel and manipulative and noted that this was among the worst case of this type that the Court had ever seen.
“Today’s sentencing reaffirms my office’s steadfast commitment to protecting our children, the most vulnerable among us, from predators who exploit and harm them online,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Elgersma. Elgersma also praised the extraordinary effort of the law enforcement agents around the country who worked tirelessly to bring Hudson and his cohorts to justice.
“Mr. Hudson’s inexcusable actions of exploiting minors online as a group administrator with hundreds of members will not be tolerated,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “The men and women of the FBI are committed to identifying and investigating those who victimize children. We will continue to leverage resources while working with our local, state, and federal partners to safeguard our communities.”
The charge against Hudson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office; the Kentucky State Police; the Bothell, Washington, Police Department; and FBI field offices across the country, including offices in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages parents, educators, and community members to talk to children about the dangers of online predators and to review helpful safety resources available to the public, including those found at NCMEC’s NetSmartz website: missingkids.org/NetSmartz/home.
Madison Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Firearm and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeramie J. Mason, 40, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. A jury convicted Mason of these crimes after a three-day trial in federal court in Madison on April 21, 2025.
On November 3, 2023, Madison Police detectives searched Mason’s bedroom for evidence of a fight that had occurred at Warner Beach Park two weeks before. In the bedroom closet, police found a loaded firearm inside of a backpack and a plastic jar containing 4320 counterfeit prescription pills that contained fentanyl, 277 grams of cocaine, and more than 240 counterfeit ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine. Later, an analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab found Mason’s DNA on the firearm and drug packaging. At the time of the offense, Mason was on supervision for possessing heroin intended for distribution. Mason is prohibited from legally possessing firearms under federal law based on that and other felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Mason’s offenses were an “alarming escalation” of his criminal conduct. Considering Mason’s history of violent crimes, Judge Conley found it especially concerning that a firearm was found near the large quantity of drugs.
The charges against Mason were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Maple Bluff Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Levins and Aaron Wegner prosecuted this case.
Federal cases involving drugs and firearms are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments on September 17, 2025. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Beloit Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
Michael Shu, 25, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with producing and receiving child pornography. The indictment alleges that on two occasions in March 2025, Shu persuaded a minor to produce child pornography. The indictment also alleges that on four occasions in March 2025, Defendant received child pornography from the same minor through Discord.
If convicted of producing child pornography, Shu faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. If convicted of receiving child pornography, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges against Shu are the result of an investigation conducted the FBI, the Beloit Police Department, and the Newport, New Hampshire, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
Monroe County Woman Charged with Bank Embezzlement
Sandra Campfield, 67, Kendall, Wisconsin, is charged with embezzlement by a bank employee. The indictment alleges that between September 2012 and December 2024, Campfield worked at a bank in Elroy, Wisconsin, embezzled money from the certificate of deposit accounts of some of the bank’s account holders, then used the money for personal expenses.
If convicted, Campfield faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
The charge against her is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the case.
Janesville Man Charged with Straw Purchasing Three Handguns
Dashun Wheeler, Jr., 22, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of making a false statement on required paperwork while purchasing firearms. The indictment alleges that on August 28, 2024, September 23, 2024, and October 8, 2024, Wheeler, Jr. purchased handguns and falsely stated on the ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when he was in fact buying them for others.
If convicted, Wheeler, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville and Beloit Police Departments, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and state and local task force officers throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephen is handling the case.
Janesville Man Charged with Transporting a Minor for Sex
Adam Gurney, 29, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The indictment alleges that between August 11 and 12, 2025, Gurney transported a minor, age 16 or older, from North Carolina to Wisconsin with the intent to engage in sexual intercourse.
If convicted, Gurney faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the City of Janesville Police Department; the Clay County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office; and the Cherokee, North Carolina Police Department with assistance from the Rock County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
Reedsburg Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition
David A. Davis, 53, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that on June 5, 2025, Davis possessed a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun, a loaded DPMS AR15 rifle, a loaded Unbranded AR15, and 9mm and .223 caliber ammunition.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Reedsburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Beloit Man Charged with Drug and Gun Crimes
Gabriel Lebron Mejia, aka “Fernando,” 26, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing and possessing drugs intended for distribution, maintaining a premises for drug distribution, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that from January 2025 to August 2025, Lebron Mejia distributed fentanyl, heroin, and/or cocaine five times, with some of the charges involving 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The indictment further alleges that on or about August 28, 2025, Lebron Mejia possessed fentanyl and cocaine intended for distribution and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment finally alleges that he maintained a premises for drug distribution.
If convicted of the charges involving distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, Lebron Mejia faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The remaining drug distribution charges and the maintaining a drug involved premises charge each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. The charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Beloit Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm
Curtis Perryman, 39, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that Perryman possessed a 9mm handgun on July 21, 2025.
If convicted, Perryman faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
** The gun and drug cases in the press release are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dustin Cullins, 37, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 7 years for possessing a firearm as a felon. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Cullins pleaded guilty to this charge on July 9, 2025.
During a probation search of Cullins’s residence, law enforcement found a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun along with ammunition stored inside a clothes dryer. Cullins admitted to buying the firearm and ammunition and said he kept the firearm to use against his girlfriend’s ex-husband. Cullins is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions and was on state probation at the time of this offense.
At the sentencing, Judge Peterson considered Cullins’s lengthy criminal history. He emphasized that Cullins is exactly the kind of person who should not have a firearm, particularly considering his history of drug use. Judge Peterson encouraged Cullins to engage in substance abuse programming while in custody.
The charge against Cullins was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Chippewa Falls Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leroy T. McNamara, 62, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced on September 5, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. McNamara pleaded guilty to this charge on the same day.
During July 2024, McNamara sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions for a total of 335 grams.
At the sentencing, Judge Conley remarked that McNamara’s willingness to trade on the addictions of others through his escalated drug dealing made him a danger to society.
The charge against McNamara was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case.
Federal drug cases are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years for Assaulting Prison GuardRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Demetrius Brown, 47, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institutional in Oxford, Wisconsin, was sentenced late last week by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 33 months in federal prison for physically assaulting a prison guard. Brown’s sentence will be served consecutive to the sentence he is already serving for drug trafficking. Brown pleaded guilty to the assault charge on June 9, 2025.
On August 24, 2024, Brown attacked a prison guard after the guard found an item of contraband in Brown’s cell. The guard suffered minor injuries.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found it troubling that in addition to causing injury to the guard, Brown’s conduct jeopardized the safety of other staff who responded to the assault. Judge Conley also expressed disappointment that Brown appeared to lack insight into his violent behavior.
The charge against Brown was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted this case.
Eau Claire Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that John A. Soung, 48, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Soung pleaded guilty to this charge on June 5, 2025.
In July 2024, investigators received information from a confidential source that a large quantity of methamphetamine was being stored inside a storage unit in Eau Claire. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the storage unit and found a backpack with approximately six pounds of methamphetamine inside. Records showed that Soung rented the storage unit, and he ultimately admitted that he used it to store methamphetamine for distribution around the Eau Claire area. On July 12, 2024, Soung was arrested during a traffic stop and inside the car, officers found a 9mm handgun that Soung later admitted was his. Soung is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.
In handing down Soung’s substantial sentence, Judge Conley recognized that this case represented a “great escalation” in Soung’s history of methamphetamine dealing. Judge Conley also noted that Soung was illegally possessing a firearm while regularly distributing methamphetamine.
The charge against Soung was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Eau Claire Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
Federal criminal cases involving drugs and firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Madison Man Who Pointed Loaded Handgun During Dispute Sentenced to 6 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joseph Harrison, 36, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 6 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Harrison pleaded guilty to this charge on June 11, 2025.
During a dispute on April 9, 2024, Harrison brandished a gun, pointed it in a woman’s face, and threatened to shoot her. He then fled in another woman’s car. Because Harrison was on state supervision at the time for a prior criminal offense, officers tracked him using GPS monitoring. Officers stopped and arrested Harrison and then searched the vehicle, where they found a loaded Beretta .22 caliber handgun under the seat Harrison had occupied. Harrison is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Harrison had spent approximately 17 years in and out of jail or prison and was on a “disastrous path for everyone, society most of all.” Judge Conley also noted that Harrison had a history of violence, particularly toward women. Judge Conley found a substantial sentence of 6 ½ years was necessary to protect the public.
The charge against Harrison was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg, Jennifer Remington, and Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Madison Man Charged with Drug and Gun Crimes
Gairitt Schad, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that on April 17, 2025, Schad possessed cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin, all intended for distribution. The indictment further alleges that on the same day, he possessed a loaded handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, and that he possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P 40 Shield .40 caliber handgun and ammunition as a convicted felon.
If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Schad faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, Schad faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison. The charge for possessing cocaine and heroin intended for distribution carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.
The charges against Schad are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Eau Claire Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking
Jason Bloedow, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution, and maintaining a drug involved premises. The indictment alleges that Bloedow sold methamphetamine on March 19 and April 15, 2025, the second buy involving 50 grams or more. The indictment also alleges that Bloedow possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution on April 25, 2025, and used his residence as a drug involved premises.
If convicted of the charge involving 500 grams or more, Bloedow faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years. The distribution charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, and the drug premises charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, the Dunn County and Chippewa County Sheriff’s Offices, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Dunn County and Eau Claire County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Madison Man Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution
Noah A. Hodges, 43, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with possessing 50 grams or more methamphetamine intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that Hodges possessed the methamphetamine on February 6, 2025.
If convicted, Hodges faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
The charge against Hodges is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case.
Wausau Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking
Austin Heil, 27, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on February 20, 2024.
If convicted, Heil faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
The charge against Heil is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case.
Fitchburg Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm
Jalen Hayes, 25, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing controlled substances intended for distribution, possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on July 25, 2025, Hayes possessed a mixture of fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin intended for distribution. The indictment further alleges that on the same day, Hayes possessed a loaded Radikal Arms RPX9 Exodus 9mm handgun as a convicted felon and further that he possessed that handgun in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the drug charge, Hayes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, Hayes faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
** Federal cases involving drugs and firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Note: An earlier version of this release stated that Austin Heil was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm. That information was incorrect, and the release has been corrected.
Madison Man Indicted for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin, returned an indictment today against Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, 30, of Madison. Gilkey-Meisegeier is charged with producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on May 16, 2025, Gilkey-Meisegeier produced and attempted to produce images of child pornography, and further that he possessed images of child pornography on June 1, 2025.
If convicted of either of the production related charges, Gilkey-Meisegeier faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The possession count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Sun Prairie Police Department with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Nearly $4 Million in GrantsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin joins the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) in announcing grants provided to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice received $3,030,186 for the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. It was authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community based, culturally specific services, in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice received $954,705 for the Sexual Assault Services Formula Program (SAS Formula Program). It was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), 34 U.S.C. § 12511. The SAS Formula Program directs grant dollars to states and territories to assist them in supporting rape crisis centers and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault, regardless of age. Funds provided through the SAS Formula Program are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault on the state and territorial levels. Rape crisis centers and other nonprofit organizations, such as dual programs providing domestic violence and sexual assault intervention services, play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as assisting victims through the medical, criminal justice, and other social support systems.
Eau Claire Woman Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that May X. Kong, 42, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Kong pled guilty to this charge on May 7, 2025.
On July 4, 2024, Eau Claire police officers stopped a vehicle that Kong was riding in after it left the house of a known methamphetamine dealer. Inside the vehicle’s center console, officers found a loaded SCCY CPX-2 9mm handgun. Officers also found a small amount of methamphetamine. Kong admitted to police that the gun belonged to her. Kong is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions.
At Kong’s sentencing, Judge Conley found that a substantial sentence was necessary because this was Kong’s third conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Judge Conley was particularly concerned that Kong was returned to crime only a few months after being released from state prison.
The charge against Kong was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Eau Claire Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Madison Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kory Washington, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 33 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Washington pleaded guilty to this charge on June 5, 2025.
On November 19, 2024, law enforcement in Madison attempted to arrest Washington because he had an outstanding warrant. Washington fled and during the chase, officers saw him throw a handgun. Officers ultimately apprehended Washington and recovered the handgun, which was a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The handgun had previously been reported stolen in Illinois. Washington is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that despite his young age, Washington had already committed an unrelenting stream of crimes, and his criminal conduct was escalating as evidenced by his decision to arm himself in this case. Judge Peterson also cited Washington’s gang ties as a reason for concern, commenting that Washington was the seventh member of the same gang sentenced to federal prison.
The charge against Washington was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments on August 6, 2025. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wausau Investment Advisor Charged With Wire Fraud and Money Laundering
Stanley Pophal, 63, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that between May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal accepted money from investors and promised to invest their funds in one of his various business ventures, including using the money to purchase commercial properties and office buildings and convert them into residential apartments. However, the indictment alleges that Pophal failed to invest the money as promised. Instead, he allegedly used most of the money for his own purposes, including the purchase of hundreds of snowmobiles.
If convicted, Pophal faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each money laundering count.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the case.
Chippewa Falls Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearms, Ammunition, and Unregistered Silencers
Michael A. Raskie Jr., 42, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing silencers not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The indictment alleges that Raskie possessed these items on January 14, 2025.
If convicted, Raskie faces a maximum penalty of 15 years on the felon in possession charge and 10 years on the unregistered silencers charge.
The charges against Raskie are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Lake Hallie Police Department, and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
Milwaukee Felon Charged With Illegally Possessing Machinegun and Ammunition
Jevon Smith, 31, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and possessing a machinegun. The indictment alleges that on June 15, 2025, Smith possessed a loaded Glock 29 10mm handgun, 10mm ammunition, and a machinegun conversion device.
A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the felon in possession charge, and 10 years in prison on the machinegun charge.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Fitchburg Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
Kavant D. Smith, 24, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Smith possessed the firearm and ammunition on January 27, 2025.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
Chippewa County Felon Charged With Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Patrick J. Buswell, 50, Holcombe, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possessing the same firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. The indictment alleges that Buswell possessed the methamphetamine and firearm on June 15, 2025.
If convicted of the methamphetamine charge, Buswell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the felon in possession charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, Buswell faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
The gun and drug cases in the press release are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).