Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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.

 

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  If convicted, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

 

 

Joshua Robertson, 25, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Tyler Stratton-Anstice, 22, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Christopher Anstice, 45, Mazomanie, Wisconsin, and Sara Sullivan, 40, Eau Claire, are charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from November 2017 through January 2018 and that it involved 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

 

The indictment also charges Anstice with being a felon in possession of firearms, alleging that on December 7, 2017, he possessed a .22 caliber handgun and a shotgun.  The indictment also charges Robertson with three counts of distributing methamphetamine in January 2018 and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment alleges that on January 21, 2018, he possessed a 9 mm handgun.  The last count of the indictment charges that on January 28, 2018, Robertson and Stratton-Anstice possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

 

Robertson, Stratton-Anstice, and Anstice originally were charged with these offenses in an indictment returned by the grand jury on March 28.  The superseding indictment adds Sullivan to the conspiracy charge.  The four defendants are all in custody.  Anstice and Stratton-Anstice are father and son.

 

If convicted, each of the defendants faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the conspiracy charge.  Robertson and Stratton-Anstice also face this penalty on the charge of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The felon in possession of a firearm charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years, and the distribution of methamphetamine charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years. 

 

The charges against these four defendants are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.