Justin Wenger, Possession of Ammunition, Wisconsin 2020

Monticello Felon Sentenced to 42 Months for Possession of Ammunition

MADISON, WIS. – In a shocking case of blatant disregard for the law, 38-year-old Justin Wenger of Monticello, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for possession of ammunition as a convicted felon.

On January 16, 2020, Wenger committed the egregious crime of stealing a box of .223 ammunition from a store in Monroe, Wisconsin. The ammunition was intended for an AR15 rifle that he had just purchased for his son. However, this was not the only egregious act committed by Wenger.

During the investigation, authorities discovered not only the .223 ammunition and AR15, but a staggering seven firearms under Wenger’s bed and approximately 50 firearms in a safe. Wenger claimed that the AR15 rifle belonged to his son, and the rest of the firearms belonged to his brother and father who were storing them at his house. This flimsy excuse was rejected by the court, and Wenger was held accountable for his actions.

Justin Wenger, a convicted felon with a history of burglary and theft of firearms, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, for his crime. This sentence is a result of his poor decision making and blatant disregard for the law.

The charge against Wenger was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan. The investigation was conducted by the Monroe and Monticello Police Departments, Green County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson noted that Wenger had simply disregarded his prohibition on possessing firearms and ammunition. Judge Peterson said that Wenger posed a danger to society due to his poor decision making. Judge Peterson ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to a two-year prison term that Wenger was serving based on revocation of his state supervision for his 2014 conviction.

mandatory facts:

1. Defendant/respondent REAL full name or legal entity name: Justin Wenger

2. Exact criminal charges: possession of ammunition as a convicted felon

3. City and state: Monticello, Wisconsin

4. EXACT DATE with month/day/year: January 16, 2020 (crime date)

5. Sentence or outcome: 42 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release

6. Dollar amounts where applicable: Not applicable

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