New London Drug Dealer Receives 17 Years in Federal Prison for Overdose Death

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 26, 2018, Tyler A. Kuhnke (age: 27) of New London, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court in Green Bay and was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, resulting the death of a close relative in June of 2017. 

Kuhnke admitted travelling with the victim to his drug source in Oshkosh for the purpose of obtaining heroin. The heroin was, unbeknownst to Kuhnke and the victim, an especially potent form of fentanyl. The medical examiner determined that the victim died of acute fentanyl toxicity.    

In pronouncing sentence, Chief U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach noted the “terribly serious” nature of Kuhnke’s crime and the negative effect that fentanyl has had on the community, calling it “a poison that’s killing people.” He found that Kuhnke was aware of the inherent dangers of distributing illegal substances, and it was noted during the hearing that Kuhnke had previously supplied drugs that led to a non-fatal overdose of the same victim in 2016. Following his release from prison, Kuhnke will serve 8 years on federal supervised release.  

The case was investigated by the New London Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

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For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700