A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin has returned indictments against five individuals on charges ranging from making threats to law enforcement to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession.
Justin P. Ward, 33, of Ironwood, Michigan, was indicted for allegedly using interstate commerce to transmit threats to injure others. The indictment claims that on January 29, 2026, Ward posted threats on Facebook targeting ICE agents. If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison. The investigation involved the FBI; Minnesota State Patrol; Saint Paul Police Department; and the Gogebic County Michigan Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is prosecuting the case.
William J. Clark III, 40, from Mindoro, Wisconsin, was charged with possessing child pornography after authorities allege he had such material on a Samsung cellphone on January 22, 2026. If found guilty, Clark could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office and the Coulee Region Children’s Internet Protection Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling prosecution efforts.
The investigation into Clark was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources among federal, state, and local agencies.
Cordero C. Coker, 38, of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, faces charges for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon after allegedly having a 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun and ammunition on November 13, 2025. He could receive up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. This case resulted from work by the Monona Police Department; Dane County Sheriff’s Office; and ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force—an interagency group involving both federal agents and local officers throughout western Wisconsin—with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuting.
Deandre Templeton, 42, of Baraboo in Sauk County is accused of possessing approximately 174 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution as alleged by an indictment dated July 30, 2025. If convicted under these charges he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years with a maximum penalty reaching forty years in prison. Investigators included members from Sauk County Drug Task Force; Sauk County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington handling prosecution.
Davoris Anderson, age 20 from Madison was indicted for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon based on allegations concerning December 11th last year (2025). A conviction would carry up to fifteen years imprisonment under federal law following investigations by Madison Police Department along with ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force led by Assistant U.S Attorney Corey Stephan.
The drug- and gun-related cases mentioned are part of Operation Take Back America—a national effort by the Department of Justice that combines resources from multiple initiatives including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to address violent crime as well as illegal immigration activities through coordinated action across various levels of government.
"You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as a defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc.
