Fort Atkinson Drug Kingpin Gets Life for Heroin Death

Fort Atkinson, WI – Donald S. Harden, a 47-year-old drug dealer from Fort Atkinson, was sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in the distribution of heroin that led to the tragic death of Frederick J. Schnettler, 24, of Neenah.

Harden was found guilty following a November 2016 jury trial in Green Bay for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, according to United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad. His conviction included the distribution of at least 100 grams of the drug, which directly resulted in Schnettler’s death.

Prosecutors revealed that Harden had been purchasing kilograms of heroin from Chicago, repackaging it in a Watertown stash house, and selling it to distributors in the Fox Valley area. His operation led to several overdoses, including the fatal overdose of Cory Dedering, 38, another Neenah resident.

The trial evidence showed that Harden had warned his co-conspirators about the lethal nature of the heroin he was dealing, which was later used by Schnettler in Waupun, leading to his death from acute heroin toxicity. A third individual suffered a non-fatal overdose from the same batch.

Chief U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach emphasized Harden’s role as a trafficker rather than a user, and highlighted his extensive criminal record in Iowa and Wisconsin. Harden was advised that his situation was entirely self-inflicted.

The investigation was conducted by multiple local law enforcement agencies and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, with the case prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Humble and Andrew J. Maier.