MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tyrone Butterfield, 39, Red Cliff, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 14 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
The amount of methamphetamine attributable to Butterfield was approximately 680 grams, which Judge Conley described as a conservative estimate. Butterfield conspired with others, including Ryan Witter, whom he met when they were in prison together. Butterfield arranged for the shipment of numerous packages of methamphetamine from sources in California to Bayfield, Wisconsin. At Butterfield’s direction, several of his associates wired money to California and accepted packages of methamphetamine on his behalf. Almost all of the methamphetamine was distributed into the Red Cliff Reservation.
The Court considered Butterfield’s role as a manager or supervisor of the drug conspiracy and also his use of his residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine when imposing his sentence.
Tyrone Butterfield and three other individuals were charged for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Butterfield is the last to plead and be sentenced. Simon Sayers was sentenced to 90 months for his role in the conspiracy. Rita Witter was sentenced to three years, and Ryan Witter, Rita Witter’s son, was sentenced to 126 months.
The charge against Butterfield was the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Cliff Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Drug Enforcement Administration in Wisconsin and California; Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office; Ashland Police Department; and the Fremont (California) Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
