MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Eric Kurrelmeyer, 32, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for distributing child pornography.   Kurrelmeyer pleaded guilty to this charge on October 3, 2019. 

On December 28, 2018, an individual using the mobile messaging application Kik sent several pictures of child pornography to an undercover task force officer (TFO) from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force in Washington, D.C.  Officers identified Kurrelmeyer as the Kik user and executed a search warrant at his residence.  As a result of the search, officers found evidence that Kurrelmeyer distributed the sexually-explicit images to the undercover TFO.

At sentencing, Judge Conley expressed concern about the defendant’s risk to the community, noting that Kurrelmeyer was both “boastful and transparent” about his sexual interest in children while chatting with the undercover TFO. 

The charge against Kurrelmeyer was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma.

This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice.  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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.

Superior Resident Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes

Brian Kainu, 36, Superior, Wisconsin, is charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

The indictment alleges that Kainu distributed methamphetamine on March 27 and April 2, 2019, and that on April 2, he possessed 50 grams or more of the drug with the intent to distribute.  The fourth count of the indictment alleges that he possessed a .22 caliber revolver on April 2.

If convicted, Kainu faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the count alleging 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a maximum of 20 years on each of the distribution counts, and 10 years on the felon in possession of a firearm count. 

The charges against Kainu are the result of an investigation by the Superior Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Northwest Area Crime Unit, Duluth Police Department, and the Lake Superior Drug & Violent Crime Task Force.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma.

Madison Man Charged with Distributing Heroin and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Sedale Lacey-Robinson, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with five counts of distributing heroin and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment alleges that on five occasions in March and April 2019, he distributed heroin, and that on April 11, 2019, he possessed a loaded .44 caliber revolver.



If convicted, Lacey-Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each heroin distribution count and 10 years on the felon in possession of a firearm count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by Dane County Narcotics Task Force and Madison Police Department.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow. 

Maryland Man Charged with Gun Crime

John K. Stroman, 31, Capitol Heights, Maryland, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment alleges that on April 18, 2019, he possessed a loaded 9mm pistol.

If convicted, Stroman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol; U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Dane County Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

The Kainu, Robinson, and Stroman indictments 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. 

Pierce County Man Charged with Producing, Distributing & Possessing Child Pornography

Eric Kurrelmeyer, 31, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, is charged with two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.

The indictment alleges that on November 10, 2018, Kurrelmeyer twice used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.  The indictment alleges that he used a cellular phone to produce videos of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

The indictment further alleges that on December 28, 2018, Kurrelmeyer used a private Kik chat to distribute one of the videos he produced on November 10.  In the fourth count, the indictment alleges that on December 28, he possessed a cellular phone containing visual depictions of child pornography, and that at least one of the depictions involved a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

If convicted, Kurrelmeyer faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on the production counts, a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years on the distribution count, and a maximum of 20 years on the possession count.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma.