DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Scott C. Blader
, United States Attorney
Contact: AUSA Assigned

Grand Jury Returns Indictments Charging Kidnapping, Gun, Drug & Immigration Crimes

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 Kidnapping
 
Marvin Baker, 42, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with kidnapping an individual. The indictment alleges that on April 19, 2018, Baker kidnapped a person for the purpose of obtaining transportation, and traveled from Wisconsin to Indiana during the course of the offense.
 
Since his arrest in Indiana on April 19, Baker has been in federal custody for allegedly violating his conditions of federal supervision. Baker will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison on July 12 at 10:00 a.m.
 
If convicted, Baker faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Madison and Indiana, the Madison Police Department, and Indiana law enforcement agencies including the Jasper and Clark County Sheriffs’ Offices and the Kouts Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.
 
Ashland County Residents Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes
 
Becky L. Peterson, 62, and Mark Moore, 64, Peeksville, Wisconsin, are charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from August 2017 to June 27, 2018.
 
The indictment also charges Peterson with distributing methamphetamine on September 29, 2017; Moore with distributing methamphetamine on October 26, 2017 and June 13, 2018; and both Peterson and Moore with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on June 27, 2018. Moore also is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on June 27, 2018, he possessed a loaded .22 caliber pistol.
 
Finally, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of real property in Peeksville in which Moore may have an interest and which was alleged to facilitate the commission of the drug conspiracy crime alleged in Count One of the indictment.
 
If convicted, Peterson and Moore face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge, and a maximum of 20 years on each of the other drug charges. Moore faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law requires that any sentence imposed on this firearm charge be served consecutively to any prison sentence imposed on the drug charge.
 
The charges against Peterson and Moore are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Halverson.
 
Rusk County Man Charged with Gun Crime
 
Travis Simpson, 38, Bruce, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on May 15, 2018, he possessed a .45 caliber pistol.
 
If convicted, Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Birchwood Police Department, Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Przybylinski Finn.
 
Madison Man Faces Additional Charge
 
Sirron Buckner, 38, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged in a superseding indictment with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that Buckner possessed the cocaine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol on June 19, 2018.
 
Buckner was charged previously in an indictment returned by the grand jury on June 20 with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
 
If convicted, Buckner faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the drug count and 10 years on the felon in possession of a firearm count. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which must be served consecutively to any prison sentence imposed on the drug charge.
 
The charges against Buckner are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow.
 
Madison Man Faces Amended Charge
 
Adolphus A. Smith, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged in a superseding indictment with possessing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the crack cocaine on April 9, 2018.
 
Smith was charged previously in an indictment returned by the grand jury on June 20 with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
 
If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson.
 
Two Mexican Nationals Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.
 
In unrelated indictments, two citizens of Mexico are charged with illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. The indictments charge Ricardo Carrillo-Victoria, 27, who was found in Madison, Wisconsin on June 25, 2018, and Ranferi Uriostegui-Valencia, 36, who was found in Madison on June 24, 2018.
 
If convicted, each man faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of these cases is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke.
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St. Paul Field Division