Oshkosh Man Sentenced to 8 ½ Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking & Money Laundering

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cory Freyermuth, 39, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 8 ½ years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering.  Freyermuth pleaded guilty to these charges on January 31, 2022. 

The government’s investigation revealed that co-defendants Levi Bagne and Krista Sparks routinely mailed packages containing methamphetamine from Arizona to Freyermuth in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  Once Freyermuth received the methamphetamine, Bagne would drive to Oshkosh from Arizona and personally distribute the methamphetamine.  However, after a period of time, Freyermuth began distributing the methamphetamine to dealers in Oshkosh and Stevens Point, Wisconsin, based on Bagne’s instructions.  After being paid by the local dealers, Freyermuth would either store the cash until Bagne picked it up, or he would return the money to Bagne through bank deposits or cashier’s checks.  Freyermuth also drove large amounts of drug proceeds to Bagne in Arizona.

On November 12, 2019, and again on February 15, 2020, Bagne and Sparks mailed packages containing methamphetamine from Arizona to Freyermuth’s residence in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  The packages were seized by law enforcement and subsequent searches of the packages revealed a total of six pounds of methamphetamine.

On September 2, 2020, agents executed a search warrant on a storage unit belonging to Bagne and Freyermuth in Stevens Point.  During the search, agents recovered approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine. 

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson stated that a significant sentence was warranted because the conspiracy involved a tremendous amount of methamphetamine being distributed in central Wisconsin.  Judge Peterson described Freyermuth’s role in the large-scale conspiracy as multifaceted, including transportation, storage, and distribution of methamphetamine.  Judge Peterson also concluded that Freyermuth played a key role in the money laundering scheme which allowed Bagne to continue to purchase methamphetamine in Arizona.  Finally, Judge Peterson noted that Freyermuth’s criminal history was concerning and included a conviction for violence against his own family members. 

A total of six individuals have been charged for participating in this methamphetamine distribution scheme.  All six individuals have pleaded guilty.  Bagne’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 18, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

The charges against Freyermuth are the result of a joint investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Unit, and Merrill Police Department.  The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.  The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.