MADISON, WIS. -- Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Hope Kissinger, 35, Eau Claire, Wis., was sentenced on Sept. 18, 2017 by U.S. District Judge James Peterson to two years in prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. This term of imprisonment is to be followed by three years of supervised release. Kissinger pleaded guilty to this offense on July 10, 2017.
On November 9, 2017, Kissinger purchased approximately three ounces of methamphetamine from Michael and William Marks. On Nov. 10, 2016, Kissinger sold an ounce of that methamphetamine to an undercover police officer. Kissinger told the officer that she stayed in the “game" to make money and that she liked the thrill of dealing drugs.
Judge Peterson agreed with Kissinger’s attorney that while we cannot prosecute our way out of the drug crisis, people who sell drugs bear some responsibility for the drug problem.
Kissinger was charged along with two co-defendants, both of whom have already pleaded guilty. William Marks is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27 and Michael Marks is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11. William Marks and Michael Marks are cousins.
The charge against Kissinger was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin State Department Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Beaver Dam Police Department, West Central Task Force, Columbus Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, and Waupun Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
