Richland Center man sentenced to 90 months for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute
MADISON, Wis. – United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Scott C. Blader announced that Joshua Clarke, 31, of Richland Center, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 90 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Clarke pleaded guilty to this charge on April 26, 2019.
On Nov. 11, 2018, an officer from the Richland Center Police Department stopped a car for a traffic violation. While talking with the passenger, who officers subsequently identified as Clarke, they observed behavior indicative of someone high on methamphetamine. Officers arrested Clarke on an outstanding warrant. During a subsequent search, officers found 35 grams of methamphetamine on Clarke. Testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration showed the methamphetamine was 100 percent pure.
During sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted Clarke’s extensive criminal history, as well as the methamphetamine’s purity level. Judge Conley noted that Clarke saw the tremendous effect of the drug as a methamphetamine user, but still decided to sell it to members of the community.
The charge against Clarke was the result of an investigation conducted by the Richland Center Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County District Attorney’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma.
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