Press Release
Grand Jury Returns Indictments
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin
MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Madison Man Charged with Producing and Distributing Child Pornography
Jeremy Schenck, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, and one count of distributing such a visual depiction. The indictment alleges that between September 2017 and August 2018, he produced three images of child pornography, and that on November 6, 2018, he used Kik messenger to send an image to a person in North Dakota.
If convicted, Schenck faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years on each production count. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years on the distribution count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography
Diorian Smith, 29, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with two counts of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. The indictment alleges that between November 2017 and November 2018, he produced child pornography videos using a cell phone.
If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the prosecution.
DeForest Man Charged with Receiving Child Pornography
Michael Hinze, 43, DeForest, Wisconsin, is charged with five counts of receiving visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that Hinze received the child pornography from September 28 to 30, 2018.
If convicted, Hinze faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and DeForest Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.
The indictments against Smith, Schenck, and Hinze have been brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wisconsin Rapids Man Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine
David Shamont Lindsey, 35, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that he distributed the methamphetamine on May 7, 2019.
If convicted, Lindsey faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Rapids and Plover Police Departments, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson is handling the prosecution.
New Lisbon Man Charged with Methamphetamine Crime
Shane C. Evans, 43, New Lisbon, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on May 5, 2019.
If convicted, Evans faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Rice Lake Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson is handling the prosecution.
Madison Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms
Sean P. Okray, 48, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that on August 23, 2019, he possessed a 9mm pistol and a .380 caliber pistol.
If convicted, Okray faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.
Janesville Man Charged with Gun Crimes
Deshawn Foreman, 24, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on July 24, 2019, he possessed .45 caliber ammunition, and that on July 25, 2019, he possessed a .45 caliber handgun.
If convicted, Foreman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Janesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the prosecution.
The indictments against Okray and Foreman have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Updated September 18, 2019
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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