United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MADISON, Wis. – John G. McGarry, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration-Wisconsin, and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Shamont Lindsey, 38, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Lindsey pleaded guilty to this charge on Jan. 24, 2022.

An investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies in central Wisconsin determined that Lindsey distributed substantial amounts of methamphetamine in the Wisconsin Rapids area for a number of years. In May 2019, he was recorded by law enforcement delivering nearly four ounces of methamphetamine to a customer in Plover, Wisconsin. In August 2019, Lindsey was stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol as he returned to Wisconsin from the West Coast with 6 ½ pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a large PVC tube hidden in his car. Lindsey intended to distribute the methamphetamine in Wisconsin. 

In sentencing Lindsey, Judge Conley said that 12 years was a reasonable and necessary sentence considering that Lindsey was a major drug trafficker in the Wisconsin Rapids area rather than engaging in lawful employment. Judge Conley noted that although Lindsey had previous criminal convictions, this would be the first meaningful prison term for his conduct. However, an aggravating factor considered by the court was Lindsey’s purposeful submission of false affidavits and information to the court when attempting to influence the court’s decision on pretrial motions raised by Lindsey who represented himself.    

The charges against Lindsey were the result of an investigation conducted by the DEA, the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Utah Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Anderson and Chadwick Elgersma prosecuted this case.