MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the unsealing of an indictment charging six people with crimes related to the distribution of methamphetamine. The indictment was returned on April 19 by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison and was unsealed yesterday.
The indictment charges Roberta Draheim, 51, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Ryan Koenig, 22, Onalaska, Wisconsin; Samuel Stanles, 26, La Crosse; and Eric Eckhoff, 24, La Crosse, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from October 2016 to February 2018, that the amount of methamphetamine attributable to Robert Draheim and Ryan Koenig was 500 grams or more, and that the amount of methamphetamine attributable to Samuel Stanles was 50 grams or more.
Draheim is also charged with possessing methamphetamine on Dec. 30, 2017, with intent to distribute, with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on January 8, 2018, and with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018. Draheim is also charged with possessing methamphetamine on Dec. 30, 2017, with intent to distribute, with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on January 8, 2018, and with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018. Koenig is also charged with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 16, 2017. Stanles is also charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Dec. 23, 2017.
The indictment also charges Mary Price, 51, North Hills, California, with attempting to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on Oct. 16, 2017, and with distributing methamphetamine on Dec. 30, 2017. Finally, the indictment charges Tom Lewis, 28, La Crosse, with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018.
The charges in this case are the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, La Crosse Police Department, and Dane County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Blader said, “This indictment reflects the commitment of Wisconsin law enforcement - whether federal, state or local - to work together to combat methamphetamine in our communities."
“Wisconsin law enforcement at all levels, local, state, and federal, share a common mission and are united in stopping dangerous drugs like methamphetamine from flowing into Wisconsin," said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. “I’m proud of the Wisconsin Department of Justice agents who led a strong investigation that resulted in the indictments being announced today."
Draheim, Stanles, and Eckhoff were arrested yesterday. They made an initial appearance in federal court in Madison yesterday afternoon. Their next appearance dates have not been set. Koenig and Lewis are in state custody; no date has been set for their initial appearance in federal court. Price was arrested in California yesterday, and made an initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles. Her initial appearance in federal court in Wisconsin has not been set.
The charge alleging 500 grams or more of methamphetamine has a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charges alleges 50 grams or more of methamphetamine have a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years. All other charges in the indictment have a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Schlipper and Darren Halverson.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
