MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Antonio Sims, 39, Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 46 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Sims pled guilty to this offense on October 8, 2019.

On July 4, 2019, Janesville law enforcement officers responded to a complaint of a man making threats with a gun.  The officers made contact with Sims who fit the description provided to them.  When officers attempted to take Sims into custody, Sims fled on foot. With officers in close pursuit, Sims retrieved a handgun from his waistband and discharged it in the air three times. 

Sims previously had been convicted of five felony offenses, including possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and aggravated battery.

The charge against Sims was the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case has been handled by United States Attorney Blader. 

The charge against Sims 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 crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms. 

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.

Madison Man Charged with Drug Crimes Involving Heroin

D’Angelo Smith, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin with the intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the heroin at his residence in Madison on June 17, 2019.  The indictment also charges Smith with possessing heroin with intent to distribute, alleging he possessed heroin in a vehicle on June 17, 2019.

If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the charge alleging 100 grams or more of heroin, and 20 years on the second charge.  The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Sun Prairie Police Department and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Charged with Gun & Drug Crimes

Reginald Lawrence, 52, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing heroin with intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The indictment alleges that he possessed heroin, a loaded 9mm pistol, and a .380 caliber pistol on July 22, 2019.

If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession charge, and 20 years in federal prison on the heroin charge.  The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, which would be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 



The charges against Lawrence are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.

Janesville Man Charged with Being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition

Antonio Sims, 39, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The indictment alleges that he possessed a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition on July 4, 2019.

If convicted, Sims faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Janesville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  United States Attorney Scott C. Blader is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Faces Additional Charges

Jeremiah Edwards, 33, Madison, Wisconsin is charged in a superseding indictment with the armed robbery of a Dane County business, brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The superseding indictment alleges that on November 8, 2018, he robbed O’Reilly Auto Parts in the Town of Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, that he did so while brandishing a firearm, and that he possessed marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun.

Edwards was previously charged with the armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence in an indictment returned by the grand jury on November 28, 2018. 

If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the armed robbery charge, 10 years on the felon in possession charge, and five years on the marijuana charge.  The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years, and the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, to be served consecutive to each other and to any sentence imposed on any other charge.

The charges against Edwards are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Middleton Police Departments, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.

The indictments against Lawrence, Sims, and Edwards 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 crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.