United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad has announced the induction of Leroy F. Sanapaw, Sr., and Kerry L. Nacotee for a brazen drug trafficking operation on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Both residents of Keshena, Wisconsin, face federal charges that include possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury, alleges that Sanapaw and Nacotee were involved in a significant drug ring on the reservation. Sanapaw is charged under 21 United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), with Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, up to $1 million fine, and supervised release ranging from three years to a lifetime.
Nacotee, along with Sanapaw, faces Felon in Possession of a Firearm charges under Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g), which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence on May 8, 2014, where they discovered over 250 grams of marijuana and five rifles of various calibers. Both individuals are legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (Native American Drug and Gang Initiative), and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier is handling the prosecution.
Despite the serious charges, it is important to note that an indictment is not evidence of guilt; Sanapaw and Nacotee are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair trial.
Related Federal Cases
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- Appleton’s Vang, Xiong and Vang Face Meth & Firearm Charges · Wisconsin
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Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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