MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael Clark, 33, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson sentenced Clark to 10 years in federal prison.  Clark was convicted following a one-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Madison on May 1, 2018, of possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. 

The evidence presented at trial showed that Clark was found in possession of fentanyl on October 14, 2015.  Officers of the Northwest Area Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a room in a hotel in Superior that day, and when they entered the room, Clark was sitting at a table actively packaging a large amount of fentanyl.  It was determined that he was in possession of over 80 grams of fentanyl. 

During Clark’s arrest, officers found a bag of fentanyl in Clark’s clenched hand.  In the room, officers found a scale, a large number of plastic sandwich bags, and 10 additional bags of fentanyl packaged for sale in half-gram quantities. 

The sentence imposed by Judge Peterson today will be served consecutively to a 71-month federal prison sentence Clark is serving from a conviction in the Northern District of Illinois in September 2017 for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.  Evidence in that case included a Facebook conversation Clark had with an associate, in which Clark described the potency of fentanyl he was distributing in the Duluth, Minnesota area and how it resulted in the deaths of four people. 

The charge against Clark was the result of an investigation by the Northwest Area Crime Unit, Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Superior Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Duluth Police Department, and Hermantown (Minnesota) Police Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren Halverson and Julie Pfluger.

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced today that Michael Clark, 33, Chicago, Illinois, was found guilty of possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute.  The jury reached its verdict yesterday evening after 30 minutes of deliberation following one day of testimony in U.S. District Court in Madison.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Clark was found in possession of fentanyl on October 14, 2015.  Officers of the Northwest Area Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a room in a hotel in Superior that day, and when they entered the room, Clark was sitting at a table actively packaging a large amount of fentanyl.  It was determined that he was in possession of over 80 grams of fentanyl. 

During Clark’s arrest, a bag of fentanyl was found in his clenched hand.  A scale and a large number of plastic sandwich bags were found in the room, along with 10 additional bags of fentanyl packaged for sale in half-gram quantities. 

U.S. Attorney Blader said, “Fentanyl has proven to be a lethal substance linked to scores of overdose deaths in Wisconsin.  My office is committed to prosecuting those who distribute and profit from this deadly drug.”

Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for July 20, 2018.  Clark faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.

Clark is currently serving a 71-month federal prison sentence handed down in the Northern District of Illinois in September 2017 for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.  Evidence in that case included a Facebook conversation Clark had with an associate, in which Clark described the potency of fentanyl he was distributing in the Duluth, Minnesota area and how it resulted in the deaths of four people. 



The charge against Clark was the result of an investigation by the Northwest Area Crime Unit, Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Superior Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Duluth Police Department, and Hermantown (Minnesota) Police Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren Halverson and Julie Pfluger.

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.

 

Superior Resident Charged with Stealing Social Security Benefits

 

Miranda Jones, 43, Superior, Wis., is charged with converting to her own use Supplemental Security Income benefits intended for the care and support of another person. The indictment alleges that she did so during a period from July 2012 to March 2016.

 

If convicted, Jones faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.

 

Wausau Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes

 

Craig C. Gates, 39, Wausau, Wis., is charged with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin with the intent to distribute. He is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that he possessed the heroin and a loaded semi-automatic handgun on February 5, 2017.

 

If convicted, Gates faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison on the drug charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years on the felon in possession of a firearm charge. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory penalty of five years in federal prison, which would be served consecutively to any sentence imposed on the heroin charge.



 

The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office – Special Investigations Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.

 

Chicago Man Charged With Possessing Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute

 

Michael Clark, 31, Chicago, is charged with possessing 40 grams or more of Fentanyl. The indictment alleges that he possessed the Fentanyl on October 14, 2015.

 

If convicted, Clark faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Superior Police Department, Northwest Area Crime Unit, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.

 

Two Inmates Charged with Possessing Weapons

 

In unrelated cases, two inmates of the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wis., are charged with possessing prohibited objects, specifically weapons. Kevin Bernard Nailor, 22, is charged with possessing a weapon on September 27, 2016, described as half a scissors with a metal blade measuring five and one-quarter inches in length. Cebrian Omar Sims, 29, is charged with possessing a weapon on November 1, 2016, described as half a scissors with a metal blade measuring five and one-half inches in length.

 

If convicted, Nailor and Sims each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons - Special Investigative Services. The prosecution of these cases is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma.

 

Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

 

Genaro Serrato-Reyes, 39, a citizen of Mexico found in Cottage Grove, Wis., is charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. The indictment alleges that he was found in the United States on June 6, 2017.

 

If convicted, Serrato-Reyes faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson.

 

Madison Man Previously Charged with Gun Crime Faces Additional Charge

 

Blair Cook, 23, Madison, Wis., is charged with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer and with being an unlawful user of marijuana in possession of a firearm. Cook was previously charged in an indictment returned by the grand jury on June 1 with being an unlawful user of marijuana in possession of a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition. The superseding indictment alleges that on April 2, 2017, he made a false statement to Max Creek Outdoors, Inc., in Oregon, Wis., by certifying that he was not an unlawful user of marijuana.

 

If convicted, Cook faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow.