Two More Defendants Sentenced in St. Croix Tribal Drug Investigation
U.S. Attorney’s Office July 12, 2010 |
MADISON, WI—Stephen P. Sinnott, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Louis Belisle, 27, and his brother Brandon Belisle, 29, both residents of Webster, Wis., were sentenced today each to 21 months, without parole, by visiting U.S. District Judge Lynn S. Adelman. Louis and Brandon Belisle previously pleaded guilty to distributing crack cocaine on St. Croix tribal lands.
With today’s sentencings, 24 defendants have now been sentenced as a result of this investigation into drug dealing on St. Croix tribal lands. The previous defendants sentenced are set forth below:
Name | Crime of Conviction | Sentence Imposed |
Joseph Merrill | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 4 years |
Manley L. Williams | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 8 years, 4 months |
Christifer Sonnenberg | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 5 years, 6 months |
Jean Sonnenberg | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 19 years, 7 months |
Bruce Sonnenberg | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 24 years, 4 months |
Amanda Sonnenberg | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 3 years, 10 months |
George Rainey | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 14 years |
Bruce Rainey | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 17 years, 6 months |
Diana Martin | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 9 years |
Margrette Cobb | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 13 years, 4 months |
Andrew Sonnenberg | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 17 years, 6 months |
Ericka J. Reynolds | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 1 year, 6 months |
Shaleah Reynolds | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 2 years |
Michael D. Hammond | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 12 years, 7 months |
Steven R. Lang | Distribution of Methamphetamine | 4 years |
Shana Corbine | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 4 years, 3 months |
Linda Lightfeather | Operating a Crack House | 5 months |
Buck Zehner | Operating a Crack House | 8 months |
Janeen Mosay | Operating a Crack House | 6 months |
Frankie Bildeau | Distribution of Crack Cocaine | 12 months, 1 day |
Broderick Swain | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 54 months |
Derrick Rapley | Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine | 13 years |
United States Attorney Sinnott stated that today’s sentencings were the result of a long-term investigation being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; St. Croix Tribal Police Department; Rice Lake Police Department; Barron County Sheriff's Department; Burnett County Sheriff's Department; Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department; Polk County Sheriff's Department; the Native American Drug & Gang Initiative; and Wisconsin State Patrol.
As set out above, 24 defendants have now been convicted of federal drug offenses as a result of this investigation. John Carr was charged in an indictment returned by the grand jury on December 2, 2009, and is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Barbara B. Crabb on August 11, 2010.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil is handling the prosecution of these cases.