Rhinelander Man Gets 8 Years for Stolen Ammo

MADISON, WIS. – Dustin LaPuma, 27, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is facing a long stretch behind bars after being sentenced to 100 months in prison for knowingly possessing stolen ammunition. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley, closes a case that exposed a dangerous mix of stolen firearms and illicit drug transactions in northern Wisconsin.

The trouble began on August 10, 2020, when officers from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and Rhinelander Police Department pulled LaPuma over in Rhinelander. A routine traffic stop quickly turned up something far more serious: LaPuma confessed to carrying a firearm in his backpack. A search revealed a loaded pistol, chambered with two rounds of 9mm Creedmore ammunition.

LaPuma initially tried to play dumb, claiming ignorance about the gun’s origins. But the story quickly unraveled. He eventually admitted he knew the firearm had been stolen from a vehicle. The kicker? He confessed to being offered one gram of methamphetamine as payment for simply holding onto the stolen weapon and the accompanying ammo – a clear indication of his willingness to participate in criminal activity.

Federal prosecutors didn’t pull any punches. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma successfully argued for a significant sentence, highlighting LaPuma’s prior criminal history. Judge Conley agreed, emphasizing the potential for harm posed by the semi-automatic pistol – a weapon capable of accepting large-capacity magazines and inflicting serious damage.

This wasn’t just about stolen bullets; it was about a dangerous individual contributing to a cycle of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and Rhinelander Police Department in the investigation, demonstrating a coordinated effort to keep illegal firearms off the streets. LaPuma’s guilty plea, entered on October 1, 2021, sealed his fate.

With LaPuma now facing nearly a decade in prison, this case serves as a stark reminder that possessing stolen firearms – and accepting drugs as payment for doing so – carries severe consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal prosecutions across the nation, exposing the underbelly of crime and holding offenders accountable.

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