La Crosse, WI – A La Crosse man is facing a potential lifetime sentence after a federal grand jury handed down indictments related to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. Benjamin W. Thoreson, 42, allegedly possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was found with two loaded handguns on August 2nd, according to federal prosecutors.
Thoreson is charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment details the alleged discovery of both the drugs and the weapons. If convicted on all counts, Thoreson could face up to 20 years in federal prison for the methamphetamine charge alone. But the real kicker? Federal law mandates that any sentence for the firearm charge – carrying a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life – be served consecutively to any other sentence. The felon in possession charge adds another potential 15 years to his woes.
In a separate case, Briante C. Banks, 30, of La Crosse, is also facing federal charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 2nd, authorities allege Banks was found with a loaded 9mm handgun. A conviction could land Banks up to 15 years behind bars. Meanwhile, Nathaniel R. Larson, 25, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has been indicted on the same charge, accused of possessing a loaded 9mm handgun on July 11th. He also faces a potential 15-year sentence if found guilty.
These indictments are part of the Justice Department’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a program that aims to reduce violent crime by coordinating federal and state law enforcement. The focus, officials say, is on taking guns out of the hands of convicted felons and disrupting drug trafficking operations. The La Crosse Police Department and the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office worked alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the Banks and Larson cases, while the La Crosse Police Department partnered with the ATF for the Thoreson investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is leading the prosecution in all three cases. While an indictment signifies a formal accusation, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow these cases as they progress through the federal court system, bringing you the unvarnished truth about crime in America.
The ATF’s continued focus on firearms-related offenses in Wisconsin underscores the agency’s commitment to stemming the flow of illegal weapons and holding those who break the law accountable. But whether PSN will deliver on its promise of safer neighborhoods remains to be seen. The streets, as always, will tell the real story.
Related Federal Cases
- Ulysee Sams Jr., Meth Trafficking and Gun Possession, GA 2023 · Alabama
- Khamphanh Phakousonh, Meth Distribution and Gun Crime, WI 2024 · Utah
- Derrick Russell Hoff, Gun and Meth Trafficking, Wisconsin 2023 · Wisconsin
- La Crosse Felon Marcelle Davis Sentenced to 5 Years for Gun Possession · Wisconsin
- Russell Cary Owens, Gun Possession, W. Va. 2024 · West Virginia
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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