Timothy M. O’Shea, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Taiwan Edwards from Janesville has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison. The 29-year-old was convicted for possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Edwards had pleaded guilty to this charge on October 28, 2024.
In October 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a storage unit linked to Edwards. During the search, they discovered over a kilogram of cocaine and $72,573 in cash. Additionally, six firearms were found, including two "ghost guns," which are privately made firearms without serial numbers.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson referred to the storage unit as a "mini armory" and emphasized that Edwards was involved in a "very substantial" level of drug trafficking.
The investigation leading to Edwards' charge was carried out by the Janesville Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Stelljes handled the prosecution of this case.
