MADISON, WI – A Middleton woman and a Beloit man are facing federal charges in separate indictments unsealed Wednesday, highlighting the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and drug trafficking in Wisconsin. Shawna Tantillo, 34, is accused of acting as a straw purchaser, allegedly buying a handgun for a convicted felon, while Denzen J. Jones, 41, is charged with a litany of drug and gun offenses, including distributing cocaine and fentanyl.
According to the indictment, Tantillo allegedly agreed to purchase a .380 handgun for a person identified as “Person 1” on November 28, 2023, knowing full well that “Person 1” was a prohibited person due to a prior felony conviction. On December 7, 2023, she allegedly bought the weapon from a Cross Plains gun store, falsely claiming on the purchase form that she was the actual buyer. She then handed the firearm over to “Person 1” in exchange for the purchase price plus a $150 kickback. Tantillo now faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the straw purchase charge, and 5 years each on the conspiracy and false statement counts.
“Stopping straw buyers and preventing illegal firearms trafficking is our first line of defense against gun violence,” declared U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea. “It is illegal to purchase a firearm posing as the real buyer for someone else. If a friend or relative asks you to lie to a firearms retailer to try to buy a gun for them, don’t do it.” The investigation into Tantillo was a joint effort between the Middleton and Fitchburg Police Departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Meanwhile, Denzen J. Jones is facing a much steeper potential sentence. Between May 27, 2022 and August 23, 2022, Jones allegedly distributed cocaine and fentanyl, possessed cocaine with intent to distribute, and maintained a location for drug trafficking. Adding to the severity of the charges, Jones is also accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and carrying a loaded firearm during his alleged drug crimes. If convicted, Jones could face up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the drug-related charges, 15 years for being a felon in possession, and a mandatory minimum of five years – and up to life – for the firearm charge related to drug trafficking.
The investigation into Jones was spearheaded by the Beloit Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, and the U.S. Marshals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg will be prosecuting the case. Both cases are being pursued under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The PSN program specifically targets gun crime, focusing on individuals illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and the violent and drug-related offenses that often accompany them. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case against Tantillo. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, but these indictments send a clear message: federal authorities are determined to crack down on those who put dangerous weapons and drugs into the hands of criminals.
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