MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Two Madison Men Charged with Armed Robbery of Sauk County Bank
Julian Thomas, 39, and James Thompson, 28, both of Madison, Wis., are charged with armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment alleges that on October 7, 2014, Thomas and Thompson robbed the People’s Community Bank in Plain, Wis. The indictment further alleges that during this crime of violence, they brandished a firearm.
If convicted, Thomas and Thompson face a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison on the armed bank robbery charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years on the gun charge, which would be served consecutively to any penalty imposed for the armed bank robbery charge. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber.
Minnesota Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography
Jacob D. Vogel, 31, Winona, Minn., is charged with using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The indictment alleges that he produced the child pornography on March 24, 2016.
Vogel was charged earlier with these offenses in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison on April 27. He made an initial appearance in federal court on April 28, and his arraignment is scheduled for May 17. He has been held in federal custody since his arrest on this charge.
If convicted, Vogel faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Polk County Man Charged with Wire Fraud & False Statements
Mark E. Johnson, 48, Dresser, Wis., doing business as Spring Brook Grain Farms LLC, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and five counts of making false statements in regard to crop insurance benefits. The indictment alleges that between December 2012 and November 2014, Johnson devised a scheme to defraud the United States, through its crop insurance program operated by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC).
The indictment alleges that in 2012, Johnson falsely overstated his corn and soybean production to Agri General Insurance Company, a company that FCIC reinsured, through the Grosskreutz Crop Insurance Agency, in order to increase his insurance reimbursement in later years. The indictment alleges that in 2013 and 2014, Johnson submitted false crop yield loss claims of approximately $340,887.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count, and 30 years in federal prison on each false statement count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz.