MADISON, WIS. - Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally-based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

In the Western District of Wisconsin, the area of emphasis for Project Safe Neighborhoods is the City of Madison and surrounding communities.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office works with the Dane County District Attorney’s Office, the Madison Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, other area law enforcement agencies, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a coordinated and collaborative effort to identify and prosecute the most violent offenders – those who commit violent crimes with firearms and felons found in possession of firearms. 

Throughout the past two years, the U.S. Department of Justice has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   According to FBI’s 2018 Crime in the United States Report released this week, the violent crime rate decreased for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers.  In the City of Madison, shots fired calls between January and August 2019 decreased 32% from the same timeframe in 2018.  Robberies and burglaries each decreased 37% in August 2019 from their numbers in August 2018. 

“The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger.”

“My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively address violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Blader.  “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we are ensuring that violent offenders are being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to meet our obligation to make our communities safer.”



Some examples of recent PSN cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office include:

Jeffrey Parker pleaded guilty yesterday to robbing the Summit Credit Union in Portage, Wisconsin, on August 16, 2019.  After the robbery, Parker led law enforcement on a high speed chase into Madison, during which Parker sped through a stoplight, striking and overturning a Federal Express truck.  Parker faces 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on December 17, 2019.

David A. Kelly was sentenced in May to 54 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Kelly brandished a firearm at a group of people, threatening to kill them.  Kelly had been convicted in Dane County Circuit Court four days prior to the incident for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he also has three prior felony drug convictions.

Jonathan Thompson, Kiefah Marbra, and Robert Minette were convicted of a series of bank robberies that occurred in Madison, Middleton, Sun Prairie, and Fitchburg in January and February 2018.  During these bank robberies, the suspects brandished handguns, pointing them at bank employees and customers.  Thompson, the ringleader, was sentenced to 22 years, while Marbra was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, and Minette was sentenced to nine years.

The PSN efforts in Madison are complemented by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).  The SIU works with serial offenders as they re-enter the community.  Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, and faith-based community members hold meetings with recently released offenders.  The offenders are offered assistance in finding housing and employment, and they are told that if they commit additional crimes, they will be prosecuted and that the sentencing judge will know they chose not to embrace the services offered to them.

To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David A. Kelly, 33, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 54 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  Kelly pleaded guilty to the charge on March 14, 2019. 

On July 16, 2018, while on the west side of Madison, Kelly retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and brandished it at a group of people, threatening to kill them.  Kelly left the scene before police officers arrived.  A warrant was issued for his arrest, and a search of his home revealed a loaded .40 caliber pistol.  Kelly’s fingerprints were found on the firearm.

Kelly had been convicted in Dane County Circuit Court four days prior to the July 16 incident for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Kelly also has three prior felony drug convictions. 

Judge Conley rejected Kelly’s request for a 30-month sentence, citing the defendant’s history of violence and lack of remorse.

This case was 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 charge against Kelly was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  This prosecution was 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.