Sun Prairie Woman Sentenced to 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Brianna M. Reno, 27, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 7 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess and distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Reno pled guilty to this charge on April 16, 2024.

On January 26, 2023, law enforcement intercepted two suspicious packages being shipped to the Madison area from Arizona. After obtaining a search warrant, officers opened the packages and inside each, found a stuffed animal containing approximately 2.2 kilograms of counterfeit prescription pills. In total, more than 40,000 pills were seized. Testing revealed that the pills contained fentanyl. Officers arranged for a controlled delivery of one package and co-defendants Jontell C. Shepherd and Alexis K. Davis were arrested after arriving at the delivery location to pick up the package.

The government’s investigation revealed that Reno arranged for co-defendant Keyshawna D. Draper to ship the fentanyl pills to Madison from Arizona.

During the sentencing, Judge Peterson emphasized the danger that fentanyl disguised as prescription pills poses to the community. Judge Peterson expressed concern that even though the counterfeit pills looked legitimate, they were actually far more dangerous since they contained fentanyl. He also remarked on the seriousness of Reno making “money by exploiting” those addicted to drugs.

All four defendants who were charged in this trafficking scheme have pled guilty. Shepherd and Draper’s sentencing hearings are scheduled for July 23, 2024, and Davis will be sentenced on July 25, 2024.

The charges against Reno, Shepherd, Davis, and Draper were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted this case.