EAU CLAIRE, WI – John A. Soung, 48, of Eau Claire, is headed to federal prison for a decade. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley handed down the 10-year sentence yesterday for possessing approximately six pounds of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The sentence doesn’t stop there: Soung will also serve 5 years of supervised release after he finishes his time.
The bust went down in July 2024 after investigators received a tip from a confidential source about a large stash of meth hidden in an Eau Claire storage unit. A search warrant turned up a backpack crammed with the drug. Records quickly linked the unit to Soung, who later admitted to using it as a distribution hub for the Eau Claire area. The net tightened on July 12, 2024, when Soung was pulled over in a traffic stop. A 9mm handgun was found in the vehicle – a weapon he had no legal right to possess due to prior felony convictions.
This wasn’t Soung’s first dance with the law. Judge Conley made it clear this case marked a “great escalation” in Soung’s history of dealing methamphetamine. The illegal firearm only compounded the severity. The judge clearly signaled this wasn’t a minor offense, but a dangerous pattern of behavior that demanded a substantial penalty.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the West Central Drug Task Force, with significant support from the Eau Claire Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also played a critical role, bringing together federal agents and local law enforcement to address gun-related crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins handled the prosecution.
Federal officials are framing the case as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide push to dismantle cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and combat violent crime. The operation leverages resources from both the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), aiming to streamline efforts against drug and gun violence.
Soung’s conviction serves as a harsh reminder that trafficking large quantities of narcotics and illegally possessing firearms carries serious consequences. The 10-year sentence sends a clear message: the Western District of Wisconsin will not tolerate such criminal activity. Expect continued crackdowns as Operation Take Back America gains momentum.
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Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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