U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Grand Jury Returns Indictments; Rock County Man Charged by Complaint
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin
MADISON, WIS. -- 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.
Lincoln County Man Charged with Gun Crime
Daniel Boldt, 46, Town of Corning, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on August 24, 2019, he possessed a .22 caliber rifle, a .32 caliber revolver, a .22 caliber pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, a 9mm pistol, and .22 caliber ammunition.
If convicted, Boldt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.
Rock County Man Charged with Illegally Possessing a Firearm
Austin Hedges, 23, Clinton, Wisconsin, is charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court today with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The complaint alleges that Hedges, knowing he had previously been committed to a mental institution, possessed a .38 caliber pistol.
The complaint and affidavit filed today allege that Hedges was the subject of an Order of Commitment issued in Rock County Circuit Court on June 12, 2013, and that as part of that order, Hedges was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. The affidavit alleges that federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hedge’s home in Clinton, and the pistol was found in his possession. Hedges was arrested by FBI agents. He appeared in federal court in Madison this afternoon and remains in federal custody.
The charge against Hedges is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.
Mexican Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering US & Possessing Firearm & Ammunition
Francisco Arturo Cruz-Martinez, 32, a citizen of Mexico found in Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and with reentering the United States after previously being removed. The indictment alleges that on September 22, 2019, Cruz-Martinez was found in possession of a .38 caliber handgun and ammunition.
If convicted, Cruz-Martinez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the gun charge, and two years in federal prison on the illegal reentry charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Corey is handling the prosecution.
The charges filed today against Boldt, Hedges, and Cruz-Martinez have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Madison Man Charged With Sex Trafficking a Minor
James Coney, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, and maintaining a minor from December 23, 2017 to about January 20, 2018, knowing the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.
The indictment also charges Coney with transporting the minor from Wisconsin to Illinois on December 24, 2017, with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution.
If convicted, Coney faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on each charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Fitchburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the prosecution.
Lake Delton Man Charged with Drug Crimes
Jack M. Washington, 43, Lake Delton, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of distributing crack cocaine and one count of possessing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he distributed crack cocaine on May 31, July 11, and August 6, 2019, and that he possessed 28 grams or more of crack cocaine on August 21, 2019.
If convicted, Washington faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each of the distribution charges. The charge of possessing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine with intent to distribute carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Delton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the prosecution.
Beloit Man Charged with Failing to Register as Sex Offender
Raynaldo Mendez, 44, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with failing to register as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The indictment alleges that from September 2017 until March 2018, he traveled from Illinois to Wisconsin and failed to update his registration as required by SORNA.
If convicted, Mendez 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, South Beloit (Illinois) Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Pfluger and Taylor Kraus are handling the prosecution.
Updated October 9, 2019
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Immigration
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component