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.

Madison Man Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Heroin

D’Angelo Smith, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin with the intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the heroin at his residence in Madison on June 17, 2019.  The indictment also charges Smith with possessing heroin with intent to distribute, alleging he possessed heroin in a vehicle on June 17, 2019.

If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the charge alleging 100 grams or more of heroin, and 20 years on the second charge.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Sun Prairie Police Department and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Charged with Gun & Drug Crimes

Reginald Lawrence, 52, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing heroin with intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The indictment alleges that he possessed heroin, a loaded 9mm pistol, and a .380 caliber pistol on July 22, 2019.

If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession charge, and 20 years in federal prison on the heroin charge.  The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, which would be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 



The charges against Lawrence are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.

Janesville Man Charged with Being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition

Antonio Sims, 39, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The indictment alleges that he possessed a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition on July 4, 2019.

If convicted, Sims faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Janesville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  United States Attorney Scott C. Blader is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Faces Additional Charges

Jeremiah Edwards, 33, Madison, Wisconsin is charged in a superseding indictment with the armed robbery of a Dane County business, brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The superseding indictment alleges that on November 8, 2018, he robbed O’Reilly Auto Parts in the Town of Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, that he did so while brandishing a firearm, and that he possessed marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun.

Edwards was previously charged with the armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence in an indictment returned by the grand jury on November 28, 2018. 

If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the armed robbery charge, 10 years on the felon in possession charge, and five years on the marijuana charge.  The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years, and the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, to be served consecutive to each other and to any sentence imposed on any other charge.

The charges against Edwards are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Middleton Police Departments, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.

The indictments against Lawrence, Sims, and Edwards have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms. 

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

Wausau Man Charged with Drug Crimes

Syharaj Vang, 27, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged in a two-count indictment with distributing five grams or more of pure methamphetamine, and possessing five grams or more of pure methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that on March 8, 2018, Vang distributed methamphetamine, and that on April 23, 2018, Vang possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.  Both counts involve five grams or more of pure methamphetamine. 

If convicted, Vang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each count. 

The charges against Vang are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, Everest Metro and Wausau Police Departments, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper. 

Madison Man and Milwaukee Woman Charged with Armed Robbery

Jeremiah D. Edwards, 33, Madison, Wisconsin, and Kanasha L. Woods, 24, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are charged with the armed robbery of a Town of Blooming Grove business, and with brandishing firearms during this crime of violence.  The indictment alleges that Edwards and Woods robbed the O’Reilly Auto Parts store on South Stoughton Road on November 8, 2018, and that they brandished firearms while committing the robbery.

Edwards and Woods were charged with these offenses in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court on November 13.  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.  Woods has been detained since her initial appearance on November 13 and Edwards has yet to appear in federal court. 



If convicted, Edwards and Woods face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the robbery charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years on the charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  Federal law requires that any penalty imposed for this charge be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the robbery charge. 

The charges against Edwards and Woods are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Middleton Police Departments, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.

The charges against Edwards and Woods have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

Baldwin Man Charged with Wire and Mail Fraud

Jamie Smith, 41, Baldwin, Wisconsin, is charged in a 23-count indictment with wire fraud, mail fraud, and making a false statement on a loan application.  The indictment alleges that Smith, who operated American Platinum Gold & Silver, Inc, (APGS), and American Independent Gold & Silver, Inc, (AIGS) from various locations in Minnesota, and in Hudson and River Falls, Wisconsin, devised a scheme to defraud customers of APGS and AIGS beginning in May 2010 and continuing until February 2017.  The indictment alleges that Smith misappropriated money and property from the clients of APGS and AIGS, lied to his clients, failed to honor coin transaction agreements with clients, and failed to inform clients that he used their money and property to pay for his personal expenditures.  The indictment alleges that the scheme caused losses to the clients of APGS and AIGS in excess of $1,122,000.

The indictment charges Smith with 11 counts each of mail fraud and wire fraud in relation to this alleged scheme.  The indictment also charges Smith with making false statements in connection with a residential loan application in January 2016.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the 22 wire and mail fraud charges, and 30 years in federal prison on the charge of making false statements in connection with a loan.

The charges against Smith are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, River Falls Police Department, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.   The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber.

MADISON, WIS. – Scott Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeremiah D. Edwards, 33, Madison, Wisconsin, and Kanasha L. Woods, 24, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on November 12, 2018 with the armed robbery of a business and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of that crime of violence.

The complaint alleges that on November 8, 2018, Edwards and Woods robbed the O’Reilly Auto Parts store on South Stoughton Road in the Town of Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, and that they brandished firearms during the robbery. 

According to the complaint, a vehicle believed to be involved in a separate robbery and allegedly in the possession of Edwards was outside O’Reilly Auto Parts at the time of the robbery.  Madison police officers began a pursuit of the vehicle, which subsequently crashed.  Citizen witnesses indicated that two people had fled from the vehicle, and Woods was arrested in the area.  The second individual from the vehicle was not apprehended. 

An arrest warrant has been issued for Edwards.  Anyone who has information about his whereabouts is encouraged to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

If convicted, Edwards and Woods face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the robbery charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years on the brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  Federal law requires that any penalty imposed for this charge be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the robbery charge. 

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.          



The charges against Edwards and Woods were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Police Department, Middleton Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rita Rumbelow and Corey Stephan.

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