Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Grand Jury Returns Indictments
MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, has returned the following indictments. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The Xiong, Hurlburt, Tlusty, and Varela-Garcia indictments were returned yesterday; the other indictments were returned today.
EAU CLAIRE MAN CHARGED WITH BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM & AMMUNITION
Matthew Weiland, 24, Eau Claire, Wis., is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he possessed a .45 caliber firearm and ammunition on February 8, 2014.
If convicted, Weiland faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Eau Claire Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.
MINNESOTA WOMAN FACES ADDITIONAL DRUG CHARGES
Pa Xiong, 32, St. Paul, Minn., is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of maintaining a place for the purposes of distributing and using methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The indictment alleges that from April 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013, Xiong maintained a residence on Briarwood Avenue in Altoona, and that from April 1, 2013 to October 1, 2013, she maintained a residence on Sunset Lane in Altoona, for the purposes of distributing and using methamphetamine.
The indictment also alleges that from April 1, 2013 to October 30, 2013, Xiong conspired with another individual not identified in the indictment to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and that this conspiracy involved 500 or more grams of methamphetamine. The indictment also charges that from December 1, 2013 to December 19, 2013, she conspired with another individual not identified in the indictment to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Finally, the indictment charges that on November 11, 2013, Xiong possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Xiong was originally indicted by the grand jury on May 14, 2013 on the count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
If convicted, Pa Xiong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count of maintaining a drug house, the conspiracy count, and the possession with intent to distribute count. The conspiracy charge which alleges 500 grams or more of methamphetamine has a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.
ELMWOOD MAN CHARGED WITH GUN CRIMES
Tony A. Hurlburt, 24, Elmwood, Wis., is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with possessing a sawed-off shotgun. The indictment alleges that on February 21, 2014, he possessed a 12 gauge shotgun, and that the shotgun was less than 26 inches in length and had a barrel of less than 18 inches.
If convicted, Hurlburt faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Police Department, West Central Drug Task Force, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
BARABOO MAN CHARGED WITH BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION
Jonathan C. Pedroza, 20, Baraboo, Wis., is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. The indictment alleges that on December 15, 2013, he possessed Winchester .380 Auto ammunition.
If convicted, Pedroza faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Baraboo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard.
AMERY MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING METHAMPHETAMINE WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
Troy Cross, 47, Amery, Wis., is charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on August 23, 2013.
If convicted, Cross faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Anderson.
POYNETTE MAN FACES CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
Robert Tlusty, 28, Poynette, Wis., is charged with three counts of receiving child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that he received computer image and video files of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on February 23, 26, and 27, 2014.
The indictment also alleges that Tlusty distributed computer image and video files of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on February 27, 2014. Finally, the indictment alleges that on May 20, 2014, he possessed a laptop computer and a thumb drive containing visual depictions of child pornography.
Tlusty was originally charged with possession of child pornography in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on May 20, 2014. He has been held in federal custody since this charge was filed.
If convicted, Tlusty faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dane County Sheriff’s Department and Poynette Police Department. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger.
This case was 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. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
JOHNSON CREEK WOMAN CHARGED WITH SELLING PROPERTY MORTGAGED TO USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY
April Schroedl, 44, Johnson Creek, Wis., is charged with two counts of defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA), by converting to her own personal use property mortgaged to FSA. The indictment alleges that on September 24, 2009, she disposed of 15 cattle valued at $6,333 and that on April 28, 2010, she disposed of 16 cattle valued at $8,793.30.
If convicted, Schroedl faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda.
MEXICAN CITIZEN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY REENTERING U.S.
Ramiro Varela-Garcia, a/k/a Antonio Aguilar-Santiago, 37, a citizen of Mexico found in Cambridge, Wis., is charged with reentering the United States after previously being deported. The indictment alleges that he was found in the U.S. on May 22, 2014.
If convicted, Varela-Garcia faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
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