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.

Madison Man Charged with Gun & Drug Crimes

Reginald Lawrence, 52, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing heroin with intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The indictment alleges that he possessed heroin, a loaded 9mm pistol, and a .380 caliber pistol on July 22, 2019.

If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession charge, and 20 years in federal prison on the heroin charge.  The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, which would be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 

The charges against Lawrence are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow is handling the prosecution.

Janesville Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition

Antonio Sims, 39, Janesville, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The indictment alleges that he possessed a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition on July 4, 2019.

If convicted, Sims faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Janesville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  United States Attorney Scott C. Blader is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Faces Additional Charges

Jeremiah Edwards, 33, Madison, Wisconsin is charged in a superseding indictment with the armed robbery of a Dane County business, brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The superseding indictment alleges that on November 8, 2018, he robbed O’Reilly Auto Parts in the Town of Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, that he did so while brandishing a firearm, and that he possessed marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun.

Edwards was previously charged with the armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence in an indictment returned by the grand jury on November 28, 2018. 

If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the armed robbery charge, 10 years on the felon in possession charge, and five years on the marijuana charge.  The charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years, and the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years, to be served consecutive to each other and to any sentence imposed on any other charge.

The charges against Edwards are the result of an investigation by the Madison and Middleton Police Departments, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber is handling the prosecution.

The indictments against Lawrence, Sims, and Edwards 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. 

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