Two Charged with Conspiracy to manufacture Meth
Madison, Wis. - John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Wade McLees, 34, Richfield, Wis., and Cody DeLao, 24, La Crosse, Wis., with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine, and conspiracy to possess materials, chemicals and equipment to manufacture methamphetamine. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison on July 27, 2011, and unsealed on August 21, 2011, when McLees was arrested.
The conspiracy counts allege that McLees and DeLao conspired with Chris Polus, Angela Davis, Travis Johnson and Amber Johnson, all of whom are currently serving prison terms after being convicted in U.S. District Court for their conduct in the case. In addition to the conspiracy charges, DeLao is also charged with possessing pseudoephedrine on April 26, 2011, knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
If convicted on Count One or Count Two of the indictment, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted on Count Three. DeLao faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted on Count Four of the indictment.
McLees and DeLao are scheduled to stand trial on January 30, 2012.
The charges against the defendants are the result of an investigation conducted by the Vernon County Sheriff's Department, La Crosse County Sheriff's Department, La Crosse Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Connell.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
