Madison, Wis. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Christopher Anstice, 46, Mazomanie, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Anstice pleaded guilty to this charge on July 23, 2018.
The investigation revealed that in early December 2017, Anstice and two co-defendants in the case, Sara Sullivan and Tyler Stratton-Anstice, drove from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Colorado for the purpose of purchasing methamphetamine. Anstice and his co-defendants met with a methamphetamine supplier in Colorado Springs and purchased three pounds of methamphetamine. The following day, Sullivan and Stratton-Anstice drove the methamphetamine to Eau Claire. Anstice and Stratton-Anstice are father and son.
On December 7, 2017, Eau Claire police officers located a stolen Ford Explorer and observed Anstice near the car. The defendant provided officers with a false name and was detained. Officers located a set of keys for the Explorer in Anstice’s possession. Officers searched the Explorer and found an unloaded Beretta shotgun in the backseat. Officers also found a lockbox in the Explorer and used a key from Anstice’s keychain to open it. Inside the lockbox, officers found a Heritage Arms Rough Rider.22 caliber handgun. Officers also found a baggie containing 13.3 grams of methamphetamine underneath the Explorer. Anstice admitted that the baggie of methamphetamine belonged to him.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Conley noted that Anstice has a disturbing criminal history and chose to play a role in a large-scale interstate methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Regarding his trip to Colorado to purchase methamphetamine, Judge Conley admonished Anstice for bringing his minor children with him.
The charges against Anstice are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron D. Wegner.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
