Craig C. Gates, a 46-year-old resident of Wausau, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 106 months in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and firearms possession. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley and will be followed by five years of supervised release. Gates pleaded guilty to the charges on October 28, 2024.
The investigation into Gates began in February 2022 as part of a larger probe into a drug trafficking organization led by Tommie Haney and Quo Vadis Lewis in Wausau. The Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation, which involved seizing drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and searching residences where large quantities of drugs and firearms were found.
Gates was identified as a significant source of cocaine for Lewis. On June 28, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Gates's residence, recovering a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, over 420 grams of cocaine, more than $11,000 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Due to previous felony convictions, Gates is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition legally.
In an interview with law enforcement officials, Gates admitted to selling cocaine for an extended period and identified Lewis as both a friend and client. He also confessed to supplying three additional distributors with cocaine sourced from cartels in Mexico.
At sentencing, Judge Conley emphasized several aggravating factors: the large amount of cocaine recovered, the presence of a loaded firearm, Gates's extensive criminal history involving violence, and his ongoing state supervision during his criminal activities.
Eight others were charged alongside Gates in connection with this drug trafficking operation. Among them were Teala L. Kumbera and Shandel L. Mohr who received sentences of 54 months and just over one year respectively for conspiracy charges related to distributing cocaine and methamphetamine. Quo Vadis Lewis received a sentence of twelve-and-a-half years for similar charges along with firearms possession as a felon.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force and local law enforcement departments under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts among prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative that targets high-level drug traffickers using collaborative efforts across federal, state, and local agencies.
