Five charged in marijuana conspiracy that netted over $600,000
MADISON, WI — A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned indictments last Wednesday, December 7th against five men from Eau Claire.
The five are charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possess marijuana with the intent to distribute it. The five are: Blake H. Handrick, 39; Joseph J. Cicione, 27; Jason E. Weller, 34; Steven B. Falstad, 49; and Chad A. Peterson, 28. Each of these is an Eau Claire, Wisconsin resident, except Cicione, who is a former Eau Claire resident and now resides in Friday Harbor, Washington.
The indictment alleges that the conspiracy operated from 2013 to December 2015, that the amount involved in the conspiracy attributable to Handrick and Cicione is 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and that the amount attributable to Weller, Falstad and Peterson is 50 kilograms or more of marijuana.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $658,900, which is alleged to constitute the proceeds form the conspiracy. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, Handrick and Cicione face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years to a maximum of life in federal prison, and Weller, Falstad and Peterson face a maximum penalty of 20 years.
According to the news release about his case, the United States Attorney advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force; West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group; Eau Claire Police Department; Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office; Galesville Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
