MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tom Lewis, 29, De Soto, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to three years in federal prison for using a telephone to facilitate the of distribution of methamphetamine.  Lewis pleaded guilty to this charge on February 19, 2019.

Lewis agreed to join with Roberta Draheim, the leader of a methamphetamine distribution operation in La Crosse, to purchase two ounces of methamphetamine from her new source in California after her previous source disappeared.  While they waited for the package of methamphetamine to arrive in the mail, Lewis used a telephone to arrange to distribute methamphetamine to Draheim.

Lewis joined with Draheim only five days after getting released from state custody on a separate matter.  Judge Conley described Lewis as continuing to engage in the sale of multiple substances, including methamphetamine, while on state supervision.

Lewis and five other individuals were charged for their roles in Draheim’s methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  All six individuals have pleaded guilty and Lewis was the last to be sentenced.

The charge against Lewis was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Wisconsin and California; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; La Crosse Police Department; Prairie du Chien Police Department; and Dane County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper. 

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ryan Koenig, 23, Onalaska, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 72 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.  Koenig pleaded guilty to this charge on November 16, 2018 and was sentenced on February 8.

Koenig conspired with Roberta Draheim and others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine to the La Crosse area.  Draheim’s trafficking operation was responsible for the shipment of over 35 packages of methamphetamine from California to the La Crosse area over a 15-month period.  Many of those packages consisted of multiple pounds of methamphetamine. 

During sentencing, Judge Conley stated that Koenig became aware that Draheim’s associates had access to cheap, high-quality methamphetamine from California and capitalized on this connection to order large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution in the La Crosse area.  This was Koenig’s first federal conviction, second drug distribution conviction, and fifth overall adult criminal conviction.

Koenig and five other individuals were charged for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  Five of the six individuals charged in the indictment have pleaded guilty; Koenig is the third to be sentenced.

The charge against Koenig was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Wisconsin and California; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; La Crosse Police Department; Prairie du Chien Police Department; and Dane County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper. 

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Roberta Draheim, 51, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced on Friday, February 1 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 130 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.  Draheim pleaded guilty to this charge on October 23, 2018.

Draheim was responsible for the shipment of more than 35 packages of methamphetamine from California to the La Crosse area over a 15-month period.  Many of those packages consisted of multiple pound-level quantities of methamphetamine.  During sentencing, Judge Conley stated that Draheim used her friends in California to obtain high quality methamphetamine at a low cost so she could supply people in the La Crosse area; she was feeding addictions.  While this was Draheim’s first criminal conviction in over 20 years, the court found that she was an organizer of the conspiracy and sentenced her accordingly. 

Draheim and five other individuals were charged for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  Five of the six individuals charged in the indictment have pleaded guilty; Draheim is the second to be sentenced.

The charge against Draheim was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Wisconsin and California; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; La Crosse Police Department; Prairie du Chien Police Department; and Dane County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper. 

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the unsealing of an indictment charging six people with crimes related to the distribution of methamphetamine.  The indictment was returned on April 19 by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison and was unsealed yesterday. 

The indictment charges Roberta Draheim, 51, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Ryan Koenig, 22, Onalaska, Wisconsin; Samuel Stanles, 26, La Crosse; and Eric Eckhoff, 24, La Crosse, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from October 2016 to February 2018, that the amount of methamphetamine attributable to Robert Draheim and Ryan Koenig was 500 grams or more, and that the amount of methamphetamine attributable to Samuel Stanles was 50 grams or more. 

Draheim is also charged with possessing methamphetamine on December 30, 2017, with intent to distribute, with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on January 8, 2018, and with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018. Draheim is also charged with possessing methamphetamine on December 30, 2017, with intent to distribute, with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on January 8, 2018, and with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018.  Koenig is also charged with attempting to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on October 16, 2017.  Stanles is also charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on December 23, 2017. 

The indictment also charges Mary Price, 51, North Hills, California, with attempting to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on October 16, 2017, and with distributing methamphetamine on December 30, 2017.  Finally, the indictment charges Tom Lewis, 28, La Crosse, with attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 4, 2018. 

The charges in this case are the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, La Crosse Police Department, and Dane County Sheriff’s Office.  U.S. Attorney Blader said, “This indictment reflects the commitment of Wisconsin law enforcement – whether federal, state or local – to work together to combat methamphetamine in our communities.”



“Wisconsin law enforcement at all levels, local, state, and federal, share a common mission and are united in stopping dangerous drugs like methamphetamine from flowing into Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.  “I’m proud of the Wisconsin Department of Justice agents who led a strong investigation that resulted in the indictments being announced today.” 

Draheim, Stanles, and Eckhoff were arrested yesterday.  They made an initial appearance in federal court in Madison yesterday afternoon.  Their next appearance dates have not been set.  Koenig and Lewis are in state custody; no date has been set for their initial appearance in federal court.  Price was arrested in California yesterday, and made an initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles.  Her initial appearance in federal court in Wisconsin has not been set. 

The charge alleging 500 grams or more of methamphetamine has a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  The charges alleges 50 grams or more of methamphetamine have a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years.  All other charges in the indictment have a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Schlipper and Darren Halverson.

You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.