Christopher Harter, a 49-year-old resident of Wausau, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for possessing over 40 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley and will be followed by five years of supervised release. Harter pleaded guilty to the charge.
In February 2025, the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force identified Harter as a heroin dealer operating in the Wausau area. Authorities discovered that he regularly traveled to Milwaukee to purchase heroin for resale in Wausau.
On March 7, 2025, law enforcement stopped a vehicle returning from Milwaukee with Harter as a passenger. Officers found 80.3 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin in his possession. A subsequent search of his apartment led to the discovery of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia including a ledger and digital scale.
During sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted Harter’s extensive history of drug-related offenses and stated that "Harter continued to degrade his community by selling drugs."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime through coordinated efforts such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
