Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced to 12 Months for Possession of Contraband

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Donald W. Simms, II, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin, was sentenced on Friday, September 21, 2012, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 months in prison for possession of contraband. He possessed marijuana and a cellular telephone.

Judge Conley imposed this sentence to run consecutively to Simms’ current prison sentence. Simms pled guilty on July 9, 2012, to possessing contraband while an inmate.

The charges against Simms were the result of an investigation conducted by FCI-Oxford special investigation supervisors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Rank and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.

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. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Minnesota Woman Charged with Bank Robbery

Tanya Kay Anderson, 39, Stanchfield, Minnesota, is charged with bank robbery. The indictment alleges that she robbed the Eagle Valley Bank in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin on September 7, 2012.

Anderson was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department on September 7.

If convicted, Anderson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, St. Croix Falls Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Burke.

California Man Charged with Failure to Appear in Court

Sang T. Danh, 28, San Bernardino, California, is charged with failing to appear in court as required by the conditions of his release order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that he failed to appear in court on April 19, 2012.

If convicted, Danh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department and U.S. Secret Service. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.

Prison Inmate Charged with Possession of Marijuana

Darrell Wellman, 24, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a prohibited object. The indictment alleges that he possessed marijuana on July 21, 2012.

If convicted, Wellman 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 with the assistance of the Bureau of Prisons. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.

FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENTS

Madison, Wisconsin – 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 GUN CRIME

Timothy Baumann, 27, Madison, Wis., is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that from June 4 to June 19, 2012, he possessed a .380 caliber pistol and ammunition.

If convicted, Baumann 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 and ATF. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

MOUNT HOREB WOMAN CHARGED WITH AIDING & ABETTING BANK ROBBERIES

Tara Thousand, 25, Mount Horeb, Wis., is charged with aiding and abetting another person in five bank robberies. The indictment alleges that she aided and abetted the following robberies:

•Associated Bank, 2420 Allen Boulevard, Middleton, Wis., on May 9, 2012;

•Associated Bank, 1574 West Broadway, Madison, Wis., on May 14, 2012;

•Anchor Bank, 2215 Holiday Drive, Janesville, Wis., on May 19, 2012;

•M&I Bank, 7801 Mineral Point Road, Madison, on May 23, 2012; and

•Anchor Bank, 333 South Westfield Road, Madison, on June 6, 2012.

If convicted, Thousand faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each charge. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madison, Middleton, Janesville, and Mount Horeb Police Departments. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke.

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Florida and Wisconsin

The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor elections on Aug. 14, 2012, in the following jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes:  Collier, Hendry, Lee, Osceola and Polk Counties, Fla.; and the city of Milwaukee, Wis.

 The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group.  In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process.  Collier, Hendry, Lee, Osceola and Polk Counties, as well as the city of Milwaukee, are required to provide language assistance in Spanish. 

 Civil Rights Division personnel will monitor polling place activities in these jurisdictions.  Civil Rights Division attorneys will coordinate federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.

 Each year, the Justice Department deploys hundreds of federal observers from Office of Personnel Management, as well as departmental staff, to monitor elections across the country.  To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.

 Visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting/index.php for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws.

Wisconsin Flag Lowering Order

EXECUTIVE ORDER #80

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman of the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office.

WHEREAS, on July 31, 2012, Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office tragically lost his life in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman provided faithful and honorable service to the people of Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin;

WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman; and

WHEREAS, a memorial service will be held for Deputy Sheriff Sergio Aleman on August 7, 2012.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SCOTT WALKER, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by federal and state law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds, and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 and ending at sunset on that date.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this third day of August, in the year two thousand twelve.

Scott Walker

Governor

Statement by Secretary Napolitano on Shooting in Wisconsin

"Yesterday's tragedy in Wisconsin is deeply saddening.  The Department of Homeland Security will continue to provide any support necessary to the ongoing investigation.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this tragedy, the Sikh community, and especially the family and friends of those killed or wounded."

Former Corporate Controller for DePere Business Convicted of Wire Fraud

United States Attorney James L. Santelle for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that Ryan P. Homa (age 38), of Green Bay, pled guilty on June 27, 2012, to an Information charging him with seven counts of wire fraud relative to his former employment at DePere-based Robinson Metals, Inc. Homa faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine as to each count. Homa pled guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement and will be sentenced on September 18, 2012, before District Court Judge William C. Griesbach.

As set forth in the information, Homa was employed as the controller for Robinson Metals when he engaged in a scheme to defraud the company of over $1.27 million between December 2007 and September 2011. Homa executed the wire fraud scheme by illegally writing over 130 checks, drawn on Robinson Metal’s bank accounts, and depositing those checks into his personal bank account that Homa created under the name of a fictitious business. Once the checks were deposited, Homa used the embezzled funds to buy real estate, build a home, buy personal property, and to fund other personal accounts. Homa concealed his activity from Robinson Metals through various means, including false entries into corporate books and false statements to corporate officers.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Green Bay Office, and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay Division.

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.

Marshfield Man Charged with Armed Robbery of Controlled Substance

Dustin Jon Fritz, 31, Marshfield, Wisconsin, is charged with taking a quantity of a controlled substance during the robbery of a Walgreens in Marshfield on June 15, 2012. The indictment also alleges that Fritz used a firearm during the robbery.

Fritz was arrested by the Marshfield Police Department shortly after the robbery occurred.

If convicted, Fritz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the robbery charge and a mandatory seven years to life on the using a firearm during a crime of violence count, which would be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Marshfield Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Burke.

Janesville Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

Daniel J. Courtney, 23, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with possession of a computer hard drive containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that Courtney possessed the child pornography on November 9, 2011.

If convicted, Courtney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.

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 Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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.

Inmate Charged with Possession of Marijuana

Christopher Sinclair, 32, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a prohibited object, namely marijuana. The indictment alleges that he possessed the marijuana on March 19, 2012.

If convicted, Sinclair faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Prisons. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Fillbach Lenzendorf.