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 that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Two Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Heroin & Fentanyl
Arthur J. Jones, 41, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and Corey D. Douglas, 27, Chicago, Illinois, are charged with conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing both heroin and fentanyl. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from May 2018 to Nov. 29, 2018.
Jones is also charged with two counts of distributing heroin in October 2018, and with three counts of distributing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in November 2018. The indictment also charges that on Nov. 29, 2018, Jones possessed 40 grams of more of a mixture containing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. The final count in the indictment charges that on Nov. 29, 2018, Douglas possessed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute.
If convicted, Jones and Douglas face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years on the charges alleging 40 grams or more of heroin and fentanyl, and a maximum of 20 years on each of the other charges. The charges against Jones and Douglas are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
Madison Man Charged with Four Robberies
Trevor Christian, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with robbing a Madison business and three financial institutions during November 2018, including:
1. Walgreens, East Washington Avenue, on November 1;
2. Associated Bank, Shopko Drive, on November 5;
3. Associated Bank, Odana Road, on November 7; and
4. Dane County Credit Union, Struck Street, on November 14.
If convicted, Christian faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Medford Man Charged with Gun & Drug Crimes
Ryan O. Kleinschmidt, 25, Medford, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that on Sept. 18, 2018, he possessed a loaded.22 caliber handgun and methamphetamine.
If convicted, Kleinschmidt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession of a firearm count, and 20 years on the drug count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Merrill Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey C. Stephan.
La Crosse Man Charged with Two Gun Crimes
Emmanuel Hunt, 23, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 22, 2018, he possessed a loaded 9mm pistol, and that on December 5, 2018, he possessed two loaded 9mm pistols.
If convicted, Hunt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm & Ammunition
David A. Kelly, 31, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on July 24, 2018, he possessed a.40 caliber pistol and.40 caliber ammunition.
If convicted, Kelly faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.
The charges against Kleinschmidt, Hunt, and Kelly have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Onalaska Man Charged in Farm Loan Fraud Case
Henry Berg, 42, formerly of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and currently of Geneva, Illinois, is charged with one count of making a false statement and one count of converting loan collateral. The indictment alleges that in May 2015, Berg made a false statement to Badgerland Financial ACA, an Agricultural Credit Association, in connection with a $650,000 agricultural loan. At the time Berg owned and operated Animal House Farms, LLC. The indictment alleges that Berg failed to disclose that his business had liabilities from the previous crop year of approximately $200,000.
The second count of the indictment alleges that Berg knowingly converted to his own use property which had been mortgaged to the Farm Service Agency, a successor agency to the Farmers Home Administration. The indictment alleges that Berg collected and then failed to remit any of the proceeds he received through a sublease contract.
If convicted, Berg faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on the false statement count and five years on the conversion of collateral count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
