Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Boyle, 44, Wausau, Wisconsin pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.

In May 2020, law enforcement agents learned that Boyle was receiving cocaine and THC through the U.S. Mail at his residence at that time in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The investigation revealed that during one week the residence received 27 packages from various addresses in California. Agents intercepted one package and found 26 grams of cocaine and 29 grams of THC wax inside.

Police investigators executed a search warrant at Boyle’s residence. In his bedroom they found two rifles, three handguns, ammunition, approximately 300 grams of marijuana, 14 grams of cocaine, and over $4,000 in cash. Boyle admitted to selling cocaine. He said that he purchased the firearms found in the house and admitted that he had a prior felony conviction from Nebraska.

At sentencing, Boyle said that his drug dealing was motivated by financial gain, but it was a mistake and he never thought he would be in front of a federal judge for it. Judge Peterson had concerns about Boyle’s judgment and reasoning, saying that the felony conviction in Nebraska should have been a wakeup call. Judge Peterson also recognized that cocaine was an addictive and damaging drug and said that Boyle’s drug dealing was aggravated by his possession of firearms. Boyle was also ordered to participate in three years of supervised release.

The charge against Boyle was the result of an investigation conducted by the Marshfield Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan handled the prosecution.

This case has 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 and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.