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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments

U.S. Attorney’s Office May 13, 2009
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin (414) 297-1700

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.

MADISON MAN CHARGED WITH BANK ROBBERY

Reginald J. Ballard, 38, Madison, Wis., is charged with robbing Capitol Bank in Verona, Wis., on May 4, 2009. The indictment also charges him with brandishing a firearm, a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun, during the robbery.

If convicted, Ballard faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison on the bank robbery count, and a mandatory consecutive seven years on the firearm count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Verona Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.

LA CROSSE WOMAN CHARGED WITH BANK FRAUD

Tanya Van Vleet, 34, La Crosse, Wis., is charged in a three-count indictment with defrauding the Bank of Galesville, in Galesville, Wis. According to the indictment, she was a partner in Timberline Auto Sales, a car dealership in La Crosse, and Psycle Werks, a motorcycle sales and service business in La Crosse, which had entered into a relationship with the Bank of Galesville for financing for the purchase of new and used cars and motorcycles by the two businesses. The indictment alleges that Van Vleet pledged as collateral to the bank vehicles which her businesses did not own; specifically, the indictment alleges that on March 27, 2006, May 15, 2006, and June 28, 2006, she pledged vehicles as collateral that were under consignment agreements or that were at her business for repair.

If convicted, Van Vleet faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.

BELOIT MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF HEROIN

Carl Hodges, 52, Beloit, Wis., is charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the heroin on April 23, 2009.

If convicted, Hodges faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Rock County Safe Streets Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.

MENOMONIE WOMAN CHARGED WITH DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCODONE

Brenda Lee McClelland, 50, Menomonie, Wis., is charged with distributing hydrocodone and possessing hydrocodone with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that she possessed and distributed the drug on December 3, 2008.

If convicted, McCelland faces a mandatory penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

ONALASKA MAN CHARGED WITH GUN CRIME

Fritz A. Murray, 61, Onalaska, Wis., is charged with illegally possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 12 gauge shotgun on October 5, 2005.

If convicted, Murray faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against Murray is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department, and Holmen Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.

FOUR MEN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY INTO UNITED STATES

In unrelated cases, four citizens of Mexico found in Dane County are charged with intentionally re-entering the United States after previously being deported. The first indictment alleges that Jose Daniel Cacahua-Ruiz, 20, was found in the United States on May 1, 2009. The second indictment alleges that Armando Leon-Reyes was found in the United States on May 4, 2009. The third indictment alleges that Pedro Mendoza-Martinez, 34, was found in the United States on March 9, 2009. The fourth indictment alleges that Manuel Gonzalez-Mar, 42, was found in the United States on May 12, 2009.

If convicted, Cacahua-Ruiz faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison, and Leon-Reyes, Mendoza-Martinez, and Gonzalez-Mar face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of investigations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of Cacahua-Ruiz and Leon-Reyes has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard. The prosecution of Mendoza-Martinez and Gonzalez-Mar has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

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