MADISON, WI – A federal grand jury in Madison, Wisconsin, has slapped a multi-count indictment on Bradly Rosenthal, 41, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, alleging a significant drug and firearms operation. The charges, unsealed today, paint a picture of a man allegedly peddling methamphetamine while illegally armed, potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Remember, an indictment is an accusation, and Rosenthal is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to the indictment, Rosenthal allegedly distributed methamphetamine on three separate occasions in February 2024. The feds claim he wasn’t just moving small amounts; on March 13, 2024, he was allegedly in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. But the charges don’t stop there. On the same date, authorities allege Rosenthal, a convicted felon, was packing heat – a Keltec handgun, a Stoeger handgun, and two types of ammunition. The indictment specifically alleges the firearm possession was in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
The potential penalties are steep. Rosenthal faces up to 20 years behind bars for each of the methamphetamine distribution charges. The possession with intent to distribute charge carries a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years. Being a felon in possession of a firearm could add another 15 years to his sentence. However, the most damning charge – possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime – could land him in prison for life, with the sentence mandated to be served consecutively to any other penalties imposed.
This takedown is the result of a joint effort by the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department, and the Nekoosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is leading the prosecution. The case is being brought under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Justice Department initiative focused on reducing violent crime by coordinating federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts – particularly targeting illegal gun possession by felons and drug-related violence.
In a separate indictment, James H. Hornung, 72, of Newbold, Wisconsin, is facing charges related to the possession of child pornography. The indictment details that between September 4, 2021, and June 23, 2023, Hornung allegedly possessed a 128 GB Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and six GB SanDisk Flash Drives loaded with disturbing content depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit acts. Disturbingly, authorities allege at least one of the depictions involved a prepubescent minor or a child under the age of 12.
If convicted, Hornung faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. This investigation was spearheaded by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg handling the prosecution. This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide program dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Resources and information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. The Grimy Times will continue to follow both of these cases as they move through the federal court system.
Related Federal Cases
- Meth & Mayhem: Wisconsin Rapids Man Faces 20 Years · Wisconsin
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- Meth & Mayhem: Stein Faces Decades in WI Drug & Gun Case · Wisconsin
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- Wisconsin Bank Robber Sentenced to Over 19 Years · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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