GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin W. Thoreson, 43, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after being convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon and distributing methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson.
Thoreson’s criminal spree came to light on August 2, 2023, when he was arrested for violating the terms of his state supervision. During the arrest, authorities found a loaded Ruger LCP .22 caliber handgun tucked in his waistband and 14 grams of methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia in his backpack. His prior felony convictions made him ineligible to legally possess a firearm.
In court, Judge Peterson acknowledged Thoreson’s struggles with addiction but emphasized the high risk of relapse and his threat to society as a factor necessitating a longer sentence.
The charges against Thoreson were the result of a joint investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department’s initiative to combat violent crime through state and federal coordination and enforcement efforts.
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Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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