United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MADISON, Wis. - DEA Chicago Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell and United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Scott C. Blader,  announced that Becky L. Peterson, 64, Tomahawk, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 66 months in federal prison for conspiring with Mark W. Moore to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Ashland County, Wisconsin over the past several years. Becky Peterson pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on June 11, 2019. Moore pleaded guilty to the same charge on November 28, 2018 and was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison on March 13, 2019.

Peterson and Moore engaged in a years-long conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from a farm near Butternut, Wisconsin in the Town of Peeksville. Drug investigators with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation developed information that Peterson and Moore were selling methamphetamine from a location known as the “Meth Farm.” Beginning in August 2017, an undercover investigator made contact with Moore and began making purchases of methamphetamine from him on the 80-acre farm. During the investigation police confirmed that Moore was working with Peterson to distribute methamphetamine.

Between August 2017 and June 2018, the undercover officer conducted seven controlled buys of methamphetamine from Moore and one from Peterson, each of these occurred at the farm, either in the residence or in a workshop nearby. The sales to the undercover officer alone totaled more than 60 grams. During the course of these buys, Moore stated that Peterson set the prices and weighed and packaged the methamphetamine for sale. Moore also stated on several occasions that he needed to confirm with Peterson whether he could give a discount for large quantity sales.

On June 26, 2018, police executed a search warrant at the farm. During the search, they recovered approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine and $11,412 in US currency. Another $2,000 was later recovered from a separate location. Peterson and Moore each admitted to their involvement in a multi-year ongoing business of distributing methamphetamine.

In sentencing Becky Peterson, Judge Peterson stated that this was long-term dealing in methamphetamine, which is an epidemic in that part of the state. Judge Peterson told Peterson that while her age and health were mitigating considerations, they were not a free pass to commit crime, and he wasn’t fully confident that she might not reoffend given that she had a past drug trafficking conviction.

In addition to the prison sentences received by Peterson and Moore, the court ordered the forfeiture of the farm property used in distributing the methamphetamine, as well as the $13,412 in cash recovered.

The charges against Peterson and Moore were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Ashland County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.