Reggie Golden, Heroin Trafficking, Wisconsin 2023

MADISON, WI – A Madison man with a history of firearms violations is headed to federal prison after admitting to trafficking heroin and illegally carrying a loaded handgun. Reggie Golden, 39, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, the Department of Justice announced.

The bust went down March 1st inside a Madison mall. Golden, already wanted on state drug charges, was located by officers from the Madison Police Department and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. When asked if he had any weapons, Golden confessed to carrying a 9mm pistol in a bag slung across his chest. A search revealed the loaded handgun alongside a digital scale, two cell phones, and 19 individually wrapped packages containing a combined 21 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for both fentanyl and heroin.

Golden didn’t bother denying his involvement. After being read his Miranda rights, he admitted to possessing both the drugs and the firearm. He claimed he’d purchased the pistol two months prior from an unidentified individual at a gas station. More damningly, Golden also confessed to being a 26-year member of the notorious Black Disciples street gang, adding another layer to the seriousness of the charges.

Judge Peterson didn’t pull any punches at sentencing, citing Golden’s previous illegal firearm possession convictions. He emphasized the lethal combination of drugs and guns, noting the clear and present danger posed to the community when traffickers like Golden are armed. The judge clearly saw this as a pattern of behavior, not an isolated incident.

“Armed drug dealers are dangerous in two ways,” stated U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea. “First, opiate drugs like fentanyl and heroin are incredibly addictive and dangerous. A single dose containing fentanyl can kill. Second, the risk of community danger increases exponentially when drug dealers, like Golden, carry high powered weapons.” O’Shea’s office has made it a priority to target these individuals, working closely with local law enforcement.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Madison Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma successfully prosecuted the case. Golden’s 30-month sentence sends a clear message: trafficking poison and packing heat won’t be tolerated on the streets of Madison.

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