MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Pheng Yang, 29, St. Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 5½ years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine in the Eau Claire, Wisconsin area between January 2018 and February 2019.  On July 12, 2019, Yang pleaded guilty to possessing 500 or more grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 

Yang was arrested on February 4, 2019, during his attempted delivery of over 900 grams of methamphetamine to an informant in Eau Claire.  At the sentencing, Judge Conley noted that notwithstanding the defendant’s lack of criminal history and addiction issues, he made a calculated decision to distribute more than 3 kilograms of methamphetamine into the Eau Claire area, which warranted a significant sentence. 

The charge against the defendant was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Central Drug Task Force, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  The United States also recognizes the assistance of the Eau Claire County District Attorney’s Office.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin. 

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

Three Charged with Robbing Dane County Businesses

In three separate indictments, three individuals are charged with robbing various Dane County businesses in December 2018 and January 2019.  The indictments allege that some of the robberies were armed robberies.

Marjory Dingwall, 39, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with robbing the Stop N’ Go gas station on Monona Drive in Madison on January 6, 2019; with robbing Orange Tree Imports on Monroe Street in Madison on January 7, 2019; and with robbing the Mobil gas station on Lake Road in Windsor, Wisconsin on January 8, 2019.  The indictment also charges her with brandishing a firearm during each robbery.

Aaron Stanley, 34, Madison, is charged with robbing the Speedway gas station on Monona Drive in Monona, Wisconsin on December 24, 2018; with robbing the Mobil gas station on Cottage Grove Road in Madison on December 30, 2018; with robbing the Speedway gas station on Lake Road in Windsor on January 6, 2019; and with robbing Papa Murphy’s Pizza on East Broadway in Monona on January 15, 2019.  The indictment also charges him with brandishing a firearm during the December 24, 2018 robbery of the Speedway gas station. 

Eric Clay, 28, Madison, is charged with robbing a Union Cab in Madison on December 14, 2018; with robbing the BP Stop-N-Go on Tower Drive in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on December 14, 2018; and with robbing a Green Cab in Madison on December 15, 2018. The indictment also charges him with brandishing a firearm during the December 15 robbery of a Green Cab.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each robbery count.  The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in federal prison.  Federal law requires that any penalty imposed for the charge of brandishing a firearm be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the robbery charges. 



The charges against Dingwall and Stanley are the result of investigations by the Madison Police Department, Monona Police Department, and Dane County Sheriff’s Office.  The charges against Clay are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Sun Prairie Police Departments.  The prosecutions of Dingwall and Stanley are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.  The prosecution of Clay is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumbelow.

McFarland Man Charged with Bank Robberies

Jason J. Yapp, 47, McFarland, Wisconsin, is charged with one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.  The indictment alleges that he robbed the Associated Bank on West Broadway in Madison on September 17, 2018, and attempted to rob the Associated Bank on Cottage Grove Road in Madison on September 21, 2018. 

If convicted, Yapp face 20 years in federal prison on each charge.  The charges against him are the result of investigations by the Madison Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan. 

The indictments against Dingwall, Stanley, Clay, and Yapp 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 violent crime.

Madison Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography and Lying to Federal Agent

Bryan Rogers, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with persuading a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.  The indictment alleges that Rogers did so between December 24, 2018 and January 13, 2019, and that the visual depiction was transported in interstate commerce from Tennessee to Wisconsin.  Rogers is also charged with lying to an FBI agent during an interview.

Rogers was previously charged with the production of child pornography offense in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on February 4, 2019.  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. 

If convicted, Rogers faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on the child pornography charge, and five years in prison on the charge of lying to investigators.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and Monroe County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger.

Minnesota Man Charged with Drug Crime

Pheng Yang, 29, St. Paul, Minnesota, is charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on February 4, 2019.

If convicted, Yang faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the West Central Drug Task Force, Eau Claire Sheriff’s Office, Eau Claire Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin. 

McFarland Woman Charged with Attempting to Possess Fentanyl

Elizabeth Cirves, 55, McFarland, Wisconsin is charged with two counts of attempting to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that she attempted to possess fentanyl on January 10 and 14, 2019.

If convicted, Cirves faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.

Wausau Woman Charged with Making False Statements

Marjean Seehafer, 43, Wausau, Wisconsin is charged with two counts of making false statements for use in determining rights to payment under the Social Security Act.  The indictment alleges that on November 20, 2017 and July 27, 2018, she falsely stated that she had not worked for private businesses in 2016 or 2017 while she was receiving Social Security disability benefits. 

If convicted, Seehafer faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against her are 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 Robert Anderson.