Milwaukee Man Indicted for Offenses Involving Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Firearms

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury had indicted Jonathan C. Copeland (age 57) for possession with intent to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin, at least 40 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana.  In addition, the indictment charges Copeland with possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime and possessing firearms after having been convicted of multiple felonies. 

If convicted of the drug charge, Copeland faces a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment with a maximum of 40 years in prison, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years on supervised release.  If convicted of possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking, Copeland faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence.  Finally, if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, because his criminal history qualifies him as an Armed Career Criminal, Copeland faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. 

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Gang Task Force, which includes Task Force Officers from the Milwaukee Police Department – District Five. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath.  

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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