Grand Jury Returns Indictments

MADISON, WI—A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. A charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Janesville Physician Charged with Obtaining Prescription Drugs by Fraud

Richard N. Barney, 53, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with 15 counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud between January and October 2012. According to the indictment, Barney was a physician licensed to practice in Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that he acquired Percocet by sending prescriptions to an InstyMeds machine in the names of 15 patients, without the patients’ knowledge, causing the Percocet to be dispensed by the machine.

According to the indictment, an InstyMeds machine was used at Beloit Memorial Hospital in Beloit, Wisconsin. The machine, which is the approximate size of a soda vending machine, dispenses medication to patients who have obtained a patient drug voucher from a prescribing physician. The voucher has a number on it that has to be entered into the machine, along with the patient’s personal code, for the drugs to be dispensed.

If convicted, Barney faces a maximum penalty of four years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Roscoe (Illinois) Police Department; and Beloit Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Weston Woman Charged with Stealing Social Security Disability Payments

Susan Schepp, 54, Weston, Wisconsin, is charged with stealing more than $41,000 from the Social Security Administration from June 2003 until September 2008. The indictment alleges that the funds were Social Security disability payments intended for her son.

If convicted, Schepp faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.

McFarland Man Charged with Gun Crimes

Cory Brandt, 26, McFarland, Wisconsin, is charged with five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a .30-06 caliber rifle on May 11, 2013; a 12-gauge shotgun on May 13, 2013; a .30 caliber rifle on May 20, 2013; a .22 caliber rifle on June 11, 2013; and a 20-gauge shotgun on June 21, 2013.

If convicted, Brandt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the McFarland Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Madison Man Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Cortez Brooks, 22, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on August 26, 2013, he possessed a 9mm pistol and ammunition.

If convicted, Brooks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Man Charged with Illegally Re-Entering U.S. and with Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Aneudy Benitez-Martinez, 33, a citizen of the Dominican Republic found living in Edgerton, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. He was found in the U.S. on August 22, 2013.

Benitez-Martinez is also charged with being felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 44 caliber revolver on August 22, 2013.

If convicted, Benitez-Martinez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the reentry charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the gun charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Rock County Safe Streets Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.

Barron Woman Charged with Bankruptcy Fraud

Cynthia Barlow, 55, Barron, Wisconsin, is charged with concealing from creditors and the United States trustee property belonging to a bankruptcy estate of a debtor. The indictment alleges that in December 2008, she concealed $18,977 in U.S. currency.

The indictment also charges her with making a material false declaration in a bankruptcy proceeding, by stating that she had only $100 cash on hand, and fraudulently omitting a $12,000 transfer of to relatives and a $3,650 payment to a creditor. She is also charged with falsely testifying under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding on February 3, 2009, about the concealed currency and the transfer of currency to relatives.

If convicted, Barlow faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.

Baraboo Man Charged with Aiding and Abetting an Armed Bank Robbery

Chance D. Pagel, 32, Baraboo, Wisconsin, is charged with aiding and abetting another person in robbing the Wells Fargo Bank in Baraboo on June 6, 2013. The indictment alleges that the defendant placed in jeopardy the life of another person by the use of a dangerous weapon.

Pagel was originally charged with this offense in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on August 15. He made an initial appearance in federal court that day and was detained in custody pending his arraignment, which is scheduled for August 29 at 10:30 a.m.

If convicted, Pagel faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baraboo Police Department, and Sauk County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter M. Jarosz.

Federal Prison Inmate Charged with Possessing Marijuana

Timothy M. Brown, 55, an inmate of the Federal Correctional Institution at Oxford, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a prohibited object on July 11, 2013. The indictment alleges that he possessed marijuana.

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and FCI-Oxford. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.