A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin has returned indictments against several individuals on charges ranging from threats to law enforcement to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The cases were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Madison, Wisconsin.
Justin P. Ward, 33, of Ironwood, Michigan, is accused of using interstate commerce to transmit threats to injure others. According to the indictment, Ward allegedly posted threats to kill ICE agents on Facebook on January 29, 2026. If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison. The investigation involved the FBI, Minnesota State Patrol, Saint Paul Police Department, and Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is prosecuting the case.
William J. Clark III, 40, from Mindoro, Wisconsin, has been charged with possession of child pornography after allegedly having such material on a Samsung cellphone on January 22, 2026. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years if found guilty. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office and Coulee Region Children’s Internet Protection Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative that coordinates federal and local efforts to address child sexual exploitation online and rescue victims nationwide.
Cordero C. Coker, 38, of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was indicted for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon on November 13, 2025—an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted. The Monona Police Department led the investigation along with Dane County Sheriff’s Office and ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force—a team composed of federal agents and local officers throughout western Wisconsin—with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuting.
Deandre Templeton, age 42 from Baraboo in Sauk County, is facing charges for allegedly possessing about 174 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution on July 30, 2025. If convicted he faces at least five years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of forty years due to mandatory minimum sentencing laws for this type of offense related to fentanyl trafficking offenses nationwide (see https://www.justice.gov/opioid-awareness/fentanyl). Agencies involved included Sauk County Drug Task Force; Sauk County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation; and DEA; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington will prosecute.
Davoris Anderson from Madison (age twenty) is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition as alleged on December 11th last year; conviction could mean up to fifteen years’ imprisonment according to federal statutes governing such cases (https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/what-are-federal-laws-regarding-possession-firearm-convicted-felon). The Madison Police Department collaborated with ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force during their inquiry; Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is assigned as prosecutor.
The drug- and gun-related prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America—a Justice Department effort focusing resources against illegal immigration activities as well as organized crime groups including drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations by leveraging programs like OCDETFs (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces) and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
“You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as a defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
