Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments

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

TWO BROTHERS CHARGED WITH SOUTH RANGE ARSON

Shawn Dalbec, 43, and Antoine Dalbec, 46, both of Maple, Wis., are charged with conspiring to commit arson. The two men, who are brothers, are alleged to have destroyed the Somewhere Else Bar in South Range, Wis. by means of fire in July 2006.

If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.

PLOVER MAN CHARGED WITH PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Alfred T. Shippy, 45, of Plover, Wis., is charged with four counts of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The indictment alleges that he did so between March 2008 and September 29, 2008.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years and a maximum penalty of 50 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Plover Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.

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.

CALIFORNIA MAN CHARGED WITH DISTRIBUTION OF MARIJUANA IN LA CROSSE AREA

Robert M. Armbrust, 47, of Santa Cruz, Calif., is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute marijuana, two counts of distributing marijuana, and one count of attempting to distribute marijuana. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated in June and July 2008. It alleges that Armbrust distributed marijuana in June and July 2008, and that he attempted to distribute marijuana on March 17, 2009.

If convicted, Armbrust faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.

BELOIT MAN CHARGED WITH GUN CRIME

Ledell Herron, 29, of Beloit, Wis., is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that Herron possessed a .22 caliber pistol and ammunition on February 15, 2009.

If convicted, Herron faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Beloit Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY INTO UNITED STATES

Navor Fragozo-Soto, 37, a citizen of Mexico found in Jefferson County, Wis., is charged with intentionally re-entering the United States after previously being deported. The indictment alleges that he was found in the United States on March 6, 2009.

If convicted, Fragozo-Soto faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.