Manitowoc Man Indicted for Federal Kidnapping, Drug Conspiracy, and Firearm Crimes

Acting United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 15, 2015, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Steven R. Schenian Jr. (age: 37) of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, with one count each of kidnapping in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a)(1), conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).  

If convicted of kidnapping, the defendant faces a life sentence, and if convicted of the drug conspiracy the defendant faces between five and forty years imprisonment. Conviction on the firearm offense carries a mandatory consecutive term of five years imprisonment.   

According to the indictment, the defendant conspired with others to sell over 500 grams of cocaine in the Manitowoc County area, and on at least one occasion is alleged to have done so while possessing a firearm. Further, he is alleged to have unlawfully and willfully kidnapped an individual identified only as “John Doe” for the purpose of seeking retaliation against that individual.

The defendant appeared in federal court in Green Bay this morning and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service pending trial.  

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Manitowoc County MEG Unit.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

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

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