Former Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Philip Wentzel (age 41), formerly of West Allis, Wisconsin, and formerly a sergeant with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of production of child pornography.

According to court documents, from 2009 through approximately April 2011, Wentzel (age 41), knowingly produced child pornography. Each of the six counts involved a different minor female victim. According to court records, Wentzel also used a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program to share images and videos of child pornography which he and others had produced.

The court set Wentzel’s sentencing for December 21, 2012. At that time, Wentzel faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment as to each count. Wentzel also faces up to a $250,000 fine per count and a minimum of five years and up to life time of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to United States Attorney L. Santelle, “Allegations of criminal activity by those who are sworn to enforce the law are especially troubling as such activities are an affront to the public, the justice system, and the many hard-working and honest men and women who serve in law enforcement.”

This case is the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department, High Technology Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz is prosecuting this case.

This case was brought as 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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery of Janesville Bank

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael Funk, 27, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on Friday, August 10, by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 10 years in prison for using a firearm to rob the Mid America Bank in Janesville. Funk pleaded guilty to this charge on June 14, 2012.

On August 6, 2011, the Mid America Bank was robbed by a white male carrying a large, black semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the gun at a teller and told her to give him all her money. He gave her a drawstring type bag, and she put all the money from her drawer into the bag.

Funk was identified as the robber in part based on information obtained during an investigation of an armed robbery committed the day before at a convenience store in Belvidere, Illinois.

Funk was later arrested in the state of Washington with a gun that looked similar to the one seen in the bank surveillance video and $5,000, which included bait money from the Mid America Bank.

The charges against Funk were the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Belvidere (Illinois) Police Department, and King County (Washington) Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Seven People Indicted for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed yesterday charged seven individuals with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Heriberto Sanchez, age 24; Musaaleh Waheed Muhammad, age 35; William Elijah Carter, age 27; Rossco Antonio Ross, age 34; Charles Eric Jackson, Jr., age 44; Gregory Leroy Carter, age 25; and Travis Sentell Peeler, age 32, were charged with possessing five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute them. Carter was also charged with one count of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The indictment, which was filed on July 23, 2012, was unsealed following the defendants’ initial appearance in federal court.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine between March 2009 and March 2012. On February 5, 2012, Carter allegedly possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, each defendant faces a potential penalty of life in prison. Carter also faces a potential penalty of five years in prison if convicted for carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Safe Streets is a FBI-sponsored task force that focuses on combating violent street crime as well as gang and drug trafficking offenses. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

Baraboo Man Sentenced for Armed Bank Robbery

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Richard B. Hindes, 32, Baraboo, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William C. Conley to 15 years in prison for armed bank robbery. Hindes pleaded guilty to this charge on April 12, 2012.

On June 16, 2011, Hindes robbed the Wells Fargo Bank in Baraboo. During the robbery, Hindes pointed a gun at two separate tellers. He then fled in a stolen vehicle and was arrested two days later in a Milwaukee suburb. In sentencing Hindes to a lengthy prison term, Judge Conley noted that Hindes has been committing violent acts for almost half of his life and is a dangerous person.

The charges against Hindes were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baraboo Police Department, and West Allis Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.

DANE COUNTY FELON SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARMS

Madison, Wis.– John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua Allen Schaaf, 26, Mazomanie, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six and one-half years in prison, without parole, for the possession of firearms by a felon. Schaaf pleaded guilty to this charge on April 12, 2012.

On October 13, 2011, the residence the defendant was sharing with his girlfriend in Middleton, Wisconsin, was searched by law enforcement as part of a separate investigation. Among other things, officers located a locked safe in the defendant's bedroom containing three firearms: a .38 caliber revolver and two .380 caliber pistols. One of the firearms had been stolen from a security company in Alabama. The defendant had three prior state felony convictions and was on extended supervised release from the Dane County Circuit Court at the time of the instant offense.

The charges against Schaaf were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff's Office and ATF. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter M. Jarosz.

Accused Serial Bank Robbers Arrested, Charged, and Detained

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael Benike, 29, of Madison, Wisconsin, and Tara Thousand, 25, of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, have been charged with six counts of bank robbery.

In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison earlier today, Benike and Thousand were charged with robbing six different banks in Madison, Middleton, and Janesville, Wisconsin, between March and June 2012. The complaint also alleges involvement in three additional bank robberies, two of which occurred outside the Western District of Wisconsin in Rockford, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa.

The defendants were arrested earlier today in Madison and Mt. Horeb by FBI agents and officers of the Madison and Mt. Horeb Police Departments. In an initial appearance in federal court in Madison today, both Benike and Thousand were ordered detained pending trial. They will appear in federal court next on July 19, at 3:30 p.m.

Each count of bank robbery carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The charges against Benike and Thousand are the result of a cooperative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madison, Middleton, Janesville, and Mt. Horeb Police Departments.

A charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke.

Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments

MADISON, WI—A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. A charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Fitchburg Man Charged with Fraud Scheme

Christian Peterson, 42, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of making a false statement to a financial institution, and four counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that Peterson misrepresented to banks that loans and a business line of credit were intended for a legitimate business purpose when, in fact, he used all or a portion of each loan and line of credit to gamble at casinos or for personal expenses. The indictment also alleges that Peterson claimed that certain accounts receivable were loans when, in fact, they were the result of gambling debts.

If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each bank fraud and false statement count and a maximum penalty of 10 years on each money laundering charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Connell.

Minnesota Man Charged with Producing False Identification Documents

Cherub Kumar, 19, Woodbury, Minnesota, is charged with two counts of producing a false identification document, two counts of transferring a false identification document, and one count of trafficking in false authentication features for use in false identification documents.

The indictment alleges that Kumar produced and transferred a false Florida driver’s license in February 2012 and produced and transferred a false Ohio driver’s license in March 2012. The indictment also alleges that he transported 300 counterfeit holographic overlays for use in producing false drivers’ licenses.

If convicted, Kumar faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and University of Wisconsin Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.

Superior Resident Charged with Possessing Child Pornography

Samuel L. Dewitt, 40, Superior, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and with possessing a computer hard drive containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that he distributed the child pornography on November 6, 2011, and that he possessed the hard drive on December 15, 2011.

If convicted, Dewitt faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lake Superior Forensic Technology and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Watertown Man Faces Child Pornography Charges

Russell J. Forsman, 43, Watertown, Wisconsin, is charged with knowingly receiving visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that on February 28, 2005, Forsman received an e-mail containing a child pornography video. The indictment also charges Forsman with possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on October 27, 2011, he possessed CDs containing visual depictions of child pornography.

If convicted, Forsman faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Milwaukee Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

This case, and the Dewitt case, were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

Madison Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm

Christopher Carthans, 23, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 9mm pistol on May 15, 2012.

If convicted, Carthans 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; Fitchburg Police Department; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Rhinelander Man Charged with Gun Crimes

John W. Houghton, 43, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing ammunition after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The indictment alleges that he possessed the ammunition on May 31, 2012.

If convicted, Houghton 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 Rhinelander Police Department and Oneida County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Chicago Man Charged with Making a False Statement When Attempting to Purchase a Firearm

Jeffrey R. Vali, 32, Chicago, is charged with making a false written statement when attempting to purchase a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on June 22, 2012. The indictment alleges that Vali falsely stated he was a resident of Wisconsin and resided in Neenah, Wisconsin.

If convicted, Valli faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution of this case will be handled by United States Attorney John W. Vaudreuil.

Madison Man Charged with Distributing Cocaine

Rodolfo Juarez, 37, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine. The indictment alleges that he distributed 500 grams or more of cocaine on June 25, 2012.

If convicted, Juarez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda.

Four Charged with Illegally Re-Entering United States

In separate indictments, four individuals have been charged with reentering the United States after previously being deported. The persons charged are:

1. Arturo Gomez-Maturin, 41, a citizen of Mexico, found in Dane County on June 14, 2012;

2. Alvaro Cano-Oyarzabal, 31, a citizen of Mexico, found in Clark County on June 14, 2012;

3. Isaac Gutierrez-Blandon, 33, a citizen of Nicaragua, found in Dane County on July 2, 2012; and

4. Rafael Carrera-Flores, 39, a citizen of Mexico, found in Juneau County on May 4, 2012.

If convicted, each person faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of these cases will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.