Illinois man sentenced to federal prison for fentanyl distribution in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) — A 36-year-old Illinois man has been sentenced to several years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl in Wisconsin.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin , Lildre S. Brown, 36, of Markham, Illinois, was sentenced on Nov. 7 by Judge James Peterson to 85 months for his crime. The prison term will be followed by six years of supervised release.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, Brown distributed fentanyl-laced heroin on three separate occasions in the Madison area.

On one occasion, Brown sent co-defendant Nicole Sanders to deliver almost 100 grams of fentanyl. On the two other occasions, co-defendant Simmeka Tibbs delivered the fentanyl for Brown.

As part of the investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Sanders' residence and found another 72 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of her car.

At the time of these offenses, Brown was on supervised release from a previous drug conviction. Judge Peterson revoked that supervision and imposed a two-year prison term. Both sentences will be served concurrently.

At Brown's sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson highlighted that Brown continued to sell drugs while on federal supervision. Peterson also expressed concern about the amount of fentanyl involved and the fact that Brown involved others in his criminal activities.

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All three defendants charged in this trafficking scheme have pled guilty. Tibbs will be sentenced on Nov. 19, 2024, and Sanders on Nov. 22, 2024.

The charges against Brown, Tibbs, and Sanders were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rock County Sheriff's Office, Madison Police Department, and the Markham, Illinois, Police Department.

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