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Washburn County Man Charged with Distributing Meth

Washburn County Man Charged with Distributing Meth

MADISON, Wis. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today.  You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  If convicted, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Washburn County Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine

Rodney Kersten [pictured above] 60, Minong, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine.  The indictment alleges that he distributed methamphetamine in May 2015, October 2015, and August 2016.

If convicted, Kersten faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Washburn County Sheriff’s Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.

Madison Man Charged with Sex Trafficking by Force and Transporting Individuals Across State Lines To Engage in Prostitution

Erin F. Graham, Jr., 36, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with sex trafficking by force and with transporting two individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution.  The indictment alleges that from April 2016 to April 2017, Graham trafficked an individual knowing that force, threats of force, or coercion would be used to cause the individual to engage in a commercial sex act.  The second count of the indictment alleges that from June 5 to 8, 2016, Graham transported two individuals from Wisconsin to Virginia to engage in prostitution.

If convicted, Graham faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the sex trafficking by force charge, and a maximum of 10 years on the charge of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger.

Madison Man Charged with Conspiring to Steal Firearms and Other Gun Crimes

Khalil Lites, 18, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged in a superseding indictment with conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer, with receiving a firearm while charged with a felony, and with possessing and concealing a stolen firearm.

The indictment alleges that on October 20, 2017, Lites and other individuals not identified in the indictment traveled to Cross Plains, Wisconsin to steal firearms from Precision Tactical Firearms, LLC (PT Firearms).  The indictment alleges that Lites and the others stole a car in Cross Plains, used the car as a ram to drive through the front windows and security gate at PT Firearms, broke glass cases inside PT Firearms with hammers, and stole 12 handguns and two rifles. 

The second count of the indictment alleges that Lites received a 9mm pistol on October 20, 2017, while under indictment for a crime punishable by a year or more in prison.  The third count of the indictment alleges that on November 3, 2017, Lites possessed a 9mm pistol that he knew was stolen.

Lites was charged in an indictment returned in November 2017 with receiving a firearm while charged with a felony.  He has been held in custody since his arrest in November 2017.

If convicted, Lites faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge, five years on the charge of receiving a firearm while charged with a felony, and 10 years on the charge of possessing a stolen firearm.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cross Plains and Madison Police Departments.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson. 

Stoughton Man Charged with Gun Crime

Seky Daniel, 26, Stoughton, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The indictment alleges that he possessed a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition on March 7, 2018. 

If convicted, Daniel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Stoughton Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow.

The cases against Khalil Lites and Seky Daniel were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Dodgeville Man Charged with Attempting to Distribute Fentanyl

 Michael Schoenmann, 30, Dodgeville, Wis., is charged with attempting to distribute fentanyl.  The indictment alleges that on February 14, 2018, he attempted to mail a package containing fentanyl from Spring Green, Wisconsin, to a residence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Schoenmann originally was charged on March 12 in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison.  Federal law requires that felony offenses be charged by an indictment returned by a grand jury within 30 days of the date a criminal complaint is filed.  He has been in custody since his arrest on March 8. 

If convicted, Schoenmann faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, and the Sauk County Drug Task Force.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn. 

Beloit Man Charged with Distributing Heroin and Cocaine

Rodney L. Roach, 37, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with four counts of distributing heroin and two counts of distributing cocaine.  The indictment alleges that he distributed the drugs in February and March 2018.

If convicted, Roach faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Beloit Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Rock County District Attorney’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Halverson. 

Four Mexican Nationals Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

In unrelated, separate indictments, four Mexican nationals have been charged with illegally reentering the United States.  The indictments charge Alfredo Juarez Perez, 55, found in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on March 20, 2018; Carlos Alberto Utrera-Utrera, 28, found in Darlington, Wisconsin on March 11, 2018; Jorge Pineda-Arrellano, 46, found in Jefferson, Wisconsin on March 14, 2018; and Daniel Mondragon-Duren, 31, found in Madison, Wisconsin on March 20, 2018. 

If convicted, Alfredo Juarez Perez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, Carlos Alberto Utrera-Utrera faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, and Jorge Pineda-Arellano and Daniel Mondragon-Duren each face a maximum penalty of two years.  The charges against them are the result of investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The prosecution of Alfredo Juarez is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.  The prosecution of Carlos Alberto Utrera-Utrera and Jorge Pineda-Arrellano is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.  The prosecution of Daniel Mondragon-Duren is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman. 


Last Update: Mar 29, 2018 10:32 am CDT

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