MADISON, WI – Jeff C. Starks, 28, of Madison, Wisconsin, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 42-month sentence for peddling poison on the streets. Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson handed down the sentence yesterday, followed by five years of supervised release, after Starks pleaded guilty in January to distributing heroin and cocaine.
The bust originated with the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, who used a confidential informant to score drugs from Starks on three separate occasions between March 1st and March 7th, 2022. The CI successfully purchased fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, confirming Starks’ role as a supplier. But the operation didn’t stop there.
On March 10, 2022, task force officers raided Starks’ Madison residence. They found him exiting his bedroom, and inside, a veritable arsenal of illegal activity. Officers seized 26 grams of powder cocaine, 21 grams of crack cocaine, 14 grams of fentanyl, and 12 grams of methamphetamine, all pre-packaged for street sales. A chilling find: two handguns, one sporting a loaded extended magazine. Over $4,000 in cash – including money used in the controlled buys – was also recovered.
What makes this case particularly egregious is Starks’ complete disregard for the law. He was already out on bond for two separate Dane County cases at the time of the drug trafficking – one involving recklessly endangering safety and another for narcotics possession and bail jumping. Despite being given a second chance by the state, Starks doubled down on criminal behavior, continuing to deal drugs even while facing existing charges.
Judge Peterson didn’t mince words at sentencing, citing the aggravating factors of dealing dangerous drugs, including fentanyl-laced substances, and the continued trafficking while out on bond. The judge also voiced serious concerns about the deadly combination of drug dealing and gun possession, a common refrain in cases like these. The investigation was a joint effort between the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Madison Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted the case, bringing Starks to justice. While 42 months is a significant sentence, it remains to be seen if it will be enough to deter others from following in Starks’ footsteps and flooding the streets of Madison with deadly drugs. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis and the relentless work of law enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking operations.
Related Federal Cases
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- Jonathan C. Copeland, Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking, WI 2024 · Wisconsin
- Louis S. Boatner, Cocaine Trafficking, WI 2024 · Wisconsin
- Irwin Sosa, Meth and Cocaine Trafficking, WI 2024 · Indiana
- Lenard Monroe, Purple iPhone Trafficking, West Allis WI, 2023 · Texas
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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