Third Member of Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced

MADISON, WIS. -- Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James Nehls, 31, Lone Rock, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to seven years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.   Nehls pleaded guilty to this charge on August 31, 2017.

The amount of methamphetamine attributable to Nehls was approximately 42 ounces.  During sentencing, Judge Conley described the amount of methamphetamine distributed through this entire conspiracy as “staggering” for Madison.

Nehls and seven other individuals were charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in March for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  Seven of the eight individuals charged in the indictment have pleaded guilty; Nehls is the third to be sentenced.

The charge against Nehls was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration- Madison, Wisconsin and Los Angeles, California; Dane County Narcotics Task Force; Dane County Sheriff’s Department; Madison Police Department; UW-Madison Police Department; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Sauk County Drug Task Force; Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force; Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office; State Line Area Narcotics Team; and Rock County Special Investigations Unit.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Reinhard and Diane Schlipper.