Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments

Madison, Wisconsin -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday and today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Pierce County Woman Charged with Fraud Scheme

Melissa Christensen, 31, of Maiden Rock, Wis., is charged in a 16-count indictment with wire fraud. The indictment alleges that she represented to various individuals that she was having a baby and wished to place the baby for adoption, when it was not her intention to provide a baby to any of these individuals. The indictment alleges that she received money from victims for phone bills, travel, bail, and other items. The indictment alleges that she contacted individuals in Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, and Ohio.

If convicted, Christensen faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against her are the result of an investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Madison Men Charged with Drug Crimes

Mario Guillermo Morales Rosa, 26, of Madison, and Misain Uriostegui-Castaneda, 23, of Madison, are charged with distributing cocaine on August 11, 2008, and with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute on August 12, 2008.

If convicted, Rosa and Uriostegui-Castaneda each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on Count one and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years prison, with a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, on Count two. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Madison Man Charged with Drug and Gun Crimes

Michael Caruso, 23, of Madison, is charged with possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that he possessed the marijuana and the firearm, a .40 caliber pistol, on July 2, 2008.

If convicted, Caruso faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the drug charge, and a mandatory minimum five year consecutive sentence on the firearm charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Madison Man Charged with Gun Crime

Morris Brown, 23, of Madison, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he possessed a .22 caliber pistol and ammunition on July 8, 2008.

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Two Federal Prison Inmates Charged with Bribing Correctional Officer

In separate indictments, two federal prison inmates are charged with bribing a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wis. Eddie D. Morant, 42, currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Edgefield, S.C., is charged with three counts of giving and promising a thing of value to a correctional officer to induce the officer to smuggle tobacco into the institution. The indictment alleges that Morant did this on September 2, 2005, January 6, 2006 and January 28, 2006.

William Jones, 44, currently incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., is charged with one count of giving and promising a thing of value to a correctional officer to induce the officer to smuggle tobacco into the institution. The indictment alleges that Jones did this on April 11, 2006.

If convicted, Morant and Jones each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on each count. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution of these cases has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O'Shea.

Man Charged with Re-Entry into the United States

Jorge Luis Cardoso-Lopez, 26, a citizen of Mexico, who was found in Madison, is charged with intentionally re-entering the United States after previously being removed. The indictment alleges that he was found in the United States on August 13, 2008.

If convicted, Cardoso-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

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