MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jesse Turnmire, 30, Bangor, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, to five years in federal prison, for possessing firearms as a convicted felon.  Turnmire pleaded guilty to this charge on March 15, 2019.  His prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release.       

On December 15, 2018, residents at an apartment complex in La Crosse reported shots-fired.  Officers recovered four Remington 9mm shell casings at the scene.  Through interviews, officers developed Turnmire as a suspect.  Turnmire was subsequently arrested after fleeing from a vehicle, and two firearms were recovered from the vehicle.  One had been reported stolen, and Turnmire had a photo of the firearm on his phone.  The other firearm was examined by the State Crime Lab, and the lab confirmed it had been used in the shooting.  Turnmire’s prior felony convictions are: 2013 Bail Jumping; 2014 Possession of Methamphetamine; 2014 Theft of Automobile; 2015 Possession of Methamphetamine; and 2016 Possession of Narcotic Drug.

In another case, Emmanuel Hunt, 24, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in federal prison for also possessing firearms as a convicted felon.  Hunt pleaded guilty to this charge on February 21, 2019.  His prison term will also be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

On November 22, 2018, Hunt was stopped for speeding and he was arrested on an outstanding warrant.  A search of the vehicle incident to arrest led to the recovery of a loaded handgun under the driver's seat. 

On December 5, 2018, Hunt was stopped by the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department after he was observed driving erratically.  When deputies approached the car, they smelled marijuana and observed marijuana in the vehicle.  A search incident to arrest led to the recovery of a loaded, stolen handgun in Hunt’s waistband.  A search of the vehicle revealed a second loaded, stolen handgun under the passenger seat.  Hunt’s prior felony convictions are:  Manufacture/Deliver Cannabis (2014, Cook County, Illinois) and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2016, Cook County, Illinois).

These cases have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. 

The charges against Turnmire and Hunt were the result of investigations conducted by the La Crosse Police Department, the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of these cases have been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow. 

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.

Two Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Heroin & Fentanyl

Arthur J. Jones, 41, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and Corey D. Douglas, 27, Chicago, Illinois, are charged with conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing both heroin and fentanyl.  The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from May 2018 to November 29, 2018. 

Jones is also charged with two counts of distributing heroin in October 2018, and with three counts of distributing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in November 2018.  The indictment also charges that on November 29, 2018, Jones possessed 40 grams of more of a mixture containing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.  The final count in the indictment charges that on November 29, 2018, Douglas possessed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute. 

If convicted, Jones and Douglas face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years on the charges alleging 40 grams or more of heroin and fentanyl, and a maximum of 20 years on each of the other charges.  The charges against Jones and Douglas are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department.   The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.

Madison Man Charged with Four Robberies

Trevor Christian, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with robbing a Madison business and three financial institutions during November 2018, including:

Walgreens, East Washington Avenue, on November 1;

Associated Bank, Shopko Drive, on November 5;

Associated Bank, Odana Road, on November 7; and

Dane County Credit Union, Struck Street, on November 14.



If convicted, Christian 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 Madison Police Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Medford Man Charged with Gun & Drug Crimes

Ryan O. Kleinschmidt, 25, Medford, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that on September 18, 2018, he possessed a loaded .22 caliber handgun and methamphetamine.

If convicted, Kleinschmidt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession of a firearm count, and 20 years on the drug count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Merrill Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey C. Stephan. 

La Crosse Man Charged with Two Gun Crimes

Emmanuel Hunt, 23, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment alleges that on November 22, 2018, he possessed a loaded 9mm pistol, and that on December 5, 2018, he possessed two loaded 9mm pistols.

If convicted, Hunt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow. 

Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearm & Ammunition

David A. Kelly, 31, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The indictment alleges that on July 24, 2018, he possessed a .40 caliber pistol and .40 caliber ammunition.

If convicted, Kelly faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is 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 M. Rumbelow.

The charges against Kleinschmidt, Hunt, and Kelly 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. 

Onalaska Man Charged in Farm Loan Fraud Case

Henry Berg, 42, formerly of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and currently of Geneva, Illinois, is charged with one count of making a false statement and one count of converting loan collateral.  The indictment alleges that in May 2015, Berg made a false statement to Badgerland Financial ACA, an Agricultural Credit Association, in connection with a $650,000 agricultural loan.  At the time Berg owned and operated Animal House Farms, LLC. The indictment alleges that Berg failed to disclose that his business had liabilities from the previous crop year of approximately $200,000. 

The second count of the indictment alleges that Berg knowingly converted to his own use property which had been mortgaged to the Farm Service Agency, a successor agency to the Farmers Home Administration.  The indictment alleges that Berg collected and then failed to remit any of the proceeds he received through a sublease contract. 

If convicted, Berg faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on the false statement count and five years on the conversion of collateral count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.