MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – A 32-year-old man in Wisconsin was sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of meth and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Timothy M. O’Shea, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua Lake, from Stratford, pleaded guilty to the charges on February 26, 2025.
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Lake was identified during an early 2024 investigation as the leader of a group in Marathon County responsible for distributing massive amounts of meth and cocaine.
The Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force investigation included a sale of 118 grams of meth to a confidential informant in February 2024 at Lake’s home. Other co-defendants also completed controlled sales in March and April 2024.
On April 15, 2024, a search warrant at Lake’s home revealed the following:
- About two kilograms of meth
- One kilogram of cocaine
- Two rifles
- Over $25,000
- Drug ledgers
- Trafficking paraphernalia
During the investigation, officials learned that Lake had distributed about 23 kilograms of meth and six kilograms of cocaine, along with a firearm to a cartel contact in return for drugs in the same timeframe.
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Lake admitted that he received a gun in exchange, which he is prohibited from possessing due to previous felony convictions. Co-defendants in the drug trafficking organization were sentenced previously:
- Mercadys Perkins – Six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of meth
- Dustin Brunker – Seven years in prison for conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of meth
- Jessica Colby – 2.5 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute meth
No additional details were provided.
