Date: 07-03-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Byron Ellison

Case Number: 3:23-cr-00122

Judge: William M. Conley

Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (Kent County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Madison

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Madison, Wisconsin criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Drug Trafficking and Possession of Machinegun
Windsor Man Sentenced to 3 ½ Years for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Machinegun

Between September 9, 2023, and October 9, 2023, Byron Ellison sold a heroin and fentanyl mixture to an undercover officer on four separate occasions. On October 17, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ellison’s residence. In a safe in Ellison’s bedroom, they found a loaded Polymer 80 9mm handgun with a “Glock switch” attached to it. In the same safe was a Mini Draco AK47-variant pistol and 13 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture. In a backpack in Ellison’s room, investigators found a loaded .40 caliber Polymer 80 handgun.

A “Glock switch” is an illegal after-market device that converts a Glock semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A Polymer 80 is a privately made firearm (aka “ghost gun”) that does not have a serial number. Ghost guns are put together using components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces.

At sentencing, Judge Conley recognized that notwithstanding Ellison’s criminal history, this would be his first time being sent to prison. Judge Conley also noted that this was a serious case because Ellison was a drug dealer who had a ghost gun with a switch, a firearm capable of spraying bullets in an indiscriminate manner.

The charges against Ellison were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 3 ½ years in federal prison. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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