United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on Dec. 3, 2018, David L. Shanks Jr. (age 37), was sentenced to multiple life terms of imprisonment by Chief District Judge William C. Griesbach. In September, Shanks was convicted by a jury in Green Bay of conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A). At the time of this conspiracy, Shanks was on federal supervision for a prior felony drug conviction. Shanks also had been convicted in 2000 of a felony drug charge in Dane County, Wisconsin. As a result of these prior convictions, Shanks received a mandatory life term of imprisonment as required by federal law.
Judge Griesbach also imposed life prison terms on three other counts. One count involved the distribution of heroin/fentanyl/methamphetamine resulting in death, while the other counts involved the distribution of heroin/fentanyl resulting in substantial bodily injury to two overdose victims. Judge Griesbach also imposed 30-year terms of imprisonment on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine to confidential informants. These counts were all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A).
The trial evidence established that between August and October of 2017, Shanks was the leader of a conspiracy involved in the daily sale of heroin, laced with fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Shanks’ sale of heroin/fentanyl resulted in the overdose death of one individual on Sept. 10, 2017. Shanks also was responsible for the sale of heroin/fentanyl that resulted in the overdose of two other individuals on Sept. 22, 2017. Fortunately, paramedics and law enforcement provided lifesaving assistance to both individuals. Cooperating witnesses testified that Shanks was responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin and meth in the greater Green Bay and Iron Mountain, Michigan, area. Witnesses described seeing Shanks with baseball sized quantities of heroin and $5,000 stacks of money, which were proceeds from drug sales.
The following agencies participated in the investigation: Brown County Drug Task Force; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration, Green Bay Field Office; Green Bay Police Department; and Green Bay Fire Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Zachary Corey. # #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
