VESPER, WI – John W. Andereggen, 56, of Vesper, Wisconsin, will spend the next 11 and a half years in federal prison after being sentenced to 138 months (11 years, 6 months) for possessing with intent to distribute over half a kilogram of methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson delivered the sentence today, citing the severity of the offenses and Andereggen’s extensive criminal history.
The bust went down in September 2022, when officers with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and multiple other agencies executed a controlled buy. The target: methamphetamine being sold out of a camper hidden in the rural woods of Wood County. A subsequent search warrant uncovered a significant stash – over 600 grams of methamphetamine, alongside 100 grams of cocaine. The haul didn’t stop there; authorities also seized four firearms and a supply of ammunition.
Andereggen’s status as a convicted felon automatically barred him from owning or possessing firearms. Investigators quickly learned he wasn’t just a user, but a supplier. According to court documents, Andereggen admitted to peddling large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine for months leading up to the raid, poisoning a small Wisconsin community with his product. Judge Peterson specifically highlighted the devastating impact of the drug amounts and the presence of a sawed-off shotgun as aggravating factors.
This wasn’t a first-time offense, not by a long shot. Peterson detailed a 33-offense criminal history stretching back to when Andereggen was 21, painting a picture of a career criminal. The judge determined a lengthy sentence was essential, not just as punishment for the current crimes, but to protect the public from Andereggen’s demonstrated pattern of illegal behavior. The sentence sends a clear message: peddling poison and packing heat as a felon carries serious consequences.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments from Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Stevens Point, and Plover. The Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also played key roles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Marie Boor prosecuted the case. The feds are touting this as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime by targeting gun violence and drug trafficking.
The case underscores the ongoing struggle against methamphetamine distribution in rural areas and the dangers posed by individuals who combine drug trafficking with illegal firearm possession. While one dealer is off the streets, the fight continues. Grimy Times will continue to follow federal prosecutions impacting communities across the country, exposing the underbelly of crime and holding offenders accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Derrick Russell Hoff, Gun and Meth Trafficking, Wisconsin 2023 · Wisconsin
- Ulysee Sams Jr., Meth Trafficking and Gun Possession, GA 2023 · Alabama
- Khamphanh Phakousonh, Meth Distribution and Gun Crime, WI 2024 · Utah
- John P Fischer, Social Security Benefit Fraud, Wisconsin 2021 · Wisconsin
- Victor Pennington, Meth Trafficking, Wisconsin 2024 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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