News and Press Releases

Indictment: More than 200 Pounds of Marijuana
Seized in Lyon County Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

January 18, 2012

TOPEKA, KAN. – Two Wisconsin men have been indicted on charges of possessing more than 200 pounds of marijuana, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Phillip Snyder, 72, Plover, Wis., and Sean Wipfli, 44, of Nekoosa, Wis., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms (more than 220 pounds) of marijuana. The crime is alleged to have occurred Dec. 15, 2011, in Lyon County.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A grand jury meeting in Topeka, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Debra L. Blasko, 58, Glendale, Calif, is charged with theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. The indictment alleges that Blasko was an employee at the Downs Branch of the U.S. Postal Service in Downs, Kan., when on three occasions in 2010 – July 2, July 5 and July 9 – she stole packages of the pain killer hydrocodone.

If convicted she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

Dwayne M. McCoy, 21, Topeka, Kan., who is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 21, 2011, in Shawnee County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

William Arthur Fowler, 22, Topeka, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in September and November 2011 in Shawnee County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

Jason Eric Owens, 22, Topeka, Kan.,is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred November 21, 2011, in Shawnee County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

Jesus Sotelo-Lopez, 36, Sinaloa, Mexico, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 5, 2012, in Russell County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

 

 

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