La Crosse Man Sentenced on Crack Cocaine Charge

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Earl Hill, 40, La Crosse, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 42 months in federal prison for possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.

In October 2018, a concerned neighbor called the La Crosse Police Department to report a lot of short-term vehicle and pedestrian traffic at Hill’s home.  Ultimately a search of Hill’s residence revealed over 22 grams of crack cocaine and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution and he was arrested. 

Hill’s arrest came less than three months after being released from a lengthy prison sentence in Illinois.  He has eight prior criminal convictions in Illinois, including convictions for drug conspiracy, domestic battery, possessing weapons, and reckless conduct.  At the time of his arrest, Hill was also on supervision in Wisconsin for delivering cocaine.

The charge against Hill was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper.