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.

Wisconsin Rapids Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms

Michael Westfahl, 37, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.  The indictment alleges that on November 17, 2018, he possessed a .45 caliber handgun; that on December 1, 2018, he possessed a .308 rifle; and that on December 21, 2018, he possessed a loaded .223 rifle, a loaded .40 caliber handgun, and a loaded. 38 caliber handgun. 

If convicted, Westfahl 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 Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Stevens Point Police Department, Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The Adams County District Attorney’s Office and Portage County District Attorney’s Office assisted in this case.   The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan.

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. 

Man Charged with Robbing Madison Bank

Albert Singer, 23, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with bank robbery.  The indictment alleges that he robbed the Chase Bank on East Towne Boulevard in Madison on August 11, 2018. 



If convicted, Singer faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation 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. 

Janesville Man Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

Brian J. Garbe, 44, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of receiving child pornography.  The indictment alleges that on February 27, March 3, and October 18, 2016, he downloaded videos from the internet containing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

If convicted, Garbe faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison on each count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s  Homeland Security Investigations; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; and Janesville Police Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Inmate Charged with Possessing Weapon

Francisco Rivera, 27, an inmate of the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a prohibited object.  The indictment alleges that on December 17, 2018, he possessed a weapon described as a metal needle with plastic wrapped around the end that measured approximately five and three-quarters inches in length.

If convicted, Rivera faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.