Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 19, 2011 |
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.
Two Madison Men Charged with Armed Robberies
Kiwanta Ali, 21, and Peter Zimmer, 29, both of Madison, Wis., are charged with conspiracy to obstruct interstate commerce by robbery, obstructing commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and being felons in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Ali committed the following robberies:
- PDQ on Mineral Point Road, Madison, on November 16, 2010;
- Deon’s on Commercial Avenue, Madison, on December 1, 2010; and
- PDQ on Milwaukee Street, Madison, on December 3, 2010.
The indictment further alleges that Ali and Zimmer committed the following robberies:
- Speedway on Verona Road, Madison, on December 6, 2010;
- BP Stop N’ Go on Schroeder Road, Madison, on December 7, 2010;
- PDQ on Williamsburg Way, Fitchburg, Wis., on December 9, 2010;
- Red Letter News on East Washington Avenue, Madison, on December 9, 2010; and
- BP Stop N’ Go on Williamson Street, Madison, on December 9, 2010.
The indictment also alleges that Ali brandished a shotgun during the robbery on November 16, 2010, and that Ali and Zimmer brandished a shotgun during the robbery on December 6, 2010. Ali is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 16 and December 6, 2010, and Zimmer is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on December 6, 2010.
If convicted, Ali and Zimmer face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy count and each robbery count, and 10 years in prison on the felon in possession of a firearm count. The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum seven-year term, to be served consecutive to any term imposed for the conspiracy and armed robberies.
The charges against Ali and Zimmer are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Fitchburg Police Departments 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.
Pewaukee Man Charged with Fitchburg Bank Robbery
Mathew Carl Koski, 56, Pewaukee, Wis., is charged with robbing the Park Bank on Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, Wis. The indictment alleges that he committed the robbery by force, violence and intimidation on January 14, 2011.
If convicted, Koski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dane County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Town of Oconomowoc, Chenequa, and Delafield Police Departments. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter M. Jarosz.
Former Executive Director of Marshfield Community Development Authority Charged with Embezzlement
Timothy Kraus, 47, Marshfield, Wis., is charged with embezzling more than $5,000 from the Marshfield Community Development Authority (MCDA). The indictment alleges that embezzlement occurred from July 2008 through June 2009, while Kraus was the Executive Director of the MCDA. According to the indictment, the MCDA receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Kraus’s responsibilities included directing the housing programs of the MCDA.
If convicted, Kraus faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Marshfield Police Department and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.
Sun Prairie Man Faces Cocaine Charge
In related cases, Alfredo Juarez, a/k/a Octavo Zambrano, age unknown, Sun Prairie, Wis., and Roman Hernandez Ortega, 37, Fitchburg, Wis., are charged in separate indictments with distributing cocaine. The indictments allege that each man distributed cocaine on January 5, 2011.
If convicted, Juarez and Ortega each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force. The prosecution of these cases has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.
Amherst Woman Charged with Embezzlement from USDA
Sandra L. Braun, 44, Amerst, Wis., is charged with embezzlement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The indictment alleges that while Braun was employed by Rural Development, a program administered and funded by USDA which was designed to assist families seeking financing to purchase, repair or improve a home, she embezzled more than $1,000. The indictment alleges that between February and December 2009, Braun unlawfully directed Rural Development funds to the payment of her property taxes.
If convicted, Braun faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the USDA’s Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Madison Man Charged with Distributing Heroin
Stephen K. Randle, 25, Madison, Wis., is charged with distributing heroin. The indictment alleges that he distributed heroin on February 1, 2010.
If convicted, Randle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
Man Charged with Illegal Re-Entry Into United States
Gustavo Velasco-Chavez, 38, a citizen of Mexico found in Madison, Wis., is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported. The indictment alleges that he was found in the United States on January 12, 2011.
If convicted, Velasco-Chavez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.