Two Indictments Charge Afghan Evacuees With Crimes While At Fort McCoy

Grand Jury Returns Indictments: Two Indictments Charge Afghan Evacuees with Crimes While at Fort McCoy; Other Indictments Charge Gun & Drug Crimes.

News Release

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.

Two Afghan Evacuees Charged with Crimes

In unrelated cases, two individuals have been charged with crimes while at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Bahrullah Noori, 20, is charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor using force against that person, and with three counts of engaging in a sexual act with a minor, with one count alleging the use of force. The indictment alleges that that the victims had not attained the age of 16 years and were at least four years younger than the defendant.

Mohammad Haroon Imaad, 32, is charged with assaulting his spouse by strangling and suffocating her. The indictment alleges that the assault occurred on September 7, 2021.

Noori and Imaad were charged previously in complaints filed in U.S. District Court. They made initial appearances in Madison on September 16 and are being detained at the Dane County Jail. Noori and Imaad are scheduled for arraignment tomorrow, September 23, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., respectively, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker.

If convicted, Noori faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the charges alleging use of force, and a maximum penalty of 15 years on the other two charges. Imaad faces a maximum penalty of 10 years. The charges against them are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort McCoy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the Noori prosecution and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Corey is handling the Imaad prosecution.

Five Charged with Gun Crimes

In unrelated cases, four individuals have been charged with gun crimes and a fifth individual with drug and gun crimes. These cases are brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN 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.

James Gillaum, 33, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded handgun. The indictment alleges that he possessed the loaded handgun on August 22, 2021. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.

Anthony Brooks, 29, Middleton, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 9mm handgun on July 19, 2021.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper is handling the prosecution.

David Barber, 36, Beloit, Wisconsin is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded handgun and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun and ammunition on December 20, 2020.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge is the result of an investigation by the Beloit Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution.

Joshua K. Breidel, 33, La Crosse, Wisconsin is charged with 3 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a handgun on March 27, 2021, that he possessed a handgun and ammunition on August 4, 2021, and that he possessed a handgun and ammunition on August 5, 2021.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each charge. The charges are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.

Benjamin T. Devine, 34, Holmen, Wisconsin is charged with two counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and with being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he distributed methamphetamine on August 5 and 16, 2021, and that he possessed methamphetamine for distribution and a .22 caliber handgun and ammunition on August 16.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each drug charge, and a maximum of 10 years on the gun charge. The charges are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse, Onalaska, and Prairie du Chief Police Departments, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.

Man Charged with Drug Crime Involving Heroin

Matthew Jackson, 28, Ashland, Wisconsin is charged with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that he possessed the heroin on May 24, 2021.

If convicted, Jackson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hayward Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper is handling the prosecution.

Madison Man Charged with Attempting to Distribute Fentanyl

Jason Jordan, 36, Madison, Wisconsin is charged with two counts of attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The indictment alleges that he attempted to distribute fentanyl on January 20 and February 23, 2021.

If convicted, Jordan faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on each charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the prosecution.

Two Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine

Saige T. Marten, 28, Boyd, Wisconsin, and Samantha K. Fristoe, 30, Owen, Wisconsin, are charged with distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine on June 7, 2021. The indictment also charges Marten with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine for distribution on June 14, 2021.

If convicted, Marten and Fristoe each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the distribution charge, and Marten also faces that penalty of the charge of possession with intent to distribute. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force; Altoona and Eau Claire Police Departments; Chippewa, Clark, and Rusk County Sheriffs’ Offices; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.