United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that John G. Shawano (age: 29) of the Village of Neopit, Menominee Indian Reservation was convicted February 3, 2011, for involuntary manslaughter in the drunk driving death of an 18 year old family member. Shawano faces a maximum of eight years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2011, before Federal District Judge William Griesbach in Green Bay.

The fatal one vehicle crash occurred on November 14, 2010, at approximately 1:30 p.m., on County Highway M on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Shawano was driving a minivan with three other occupants when he lost control of the vehicle and struck some trees. One of the passengers was pronounced dead at the scene. Shawano and the other two occupants escaped serious injury. A forensic blood draw taken two hours later showed Shawano’s blood ethanol concentration was 0.304 grams/100 milliliters. The prohibited blood alcohol level was 0.08 grams/100 milliliters.

The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Wisconsin State Patrol, and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay Division.

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