Craig C. Gates, a 46-year-old resident of Wausau, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 106 months in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and firearms possession. The sentencing was announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley presided over the case and imposed the sentence, which will be followed by five years of supervised release.
Gates pleaded guilty to these charges on October 28, 2024. His involvement in drug trafficking was uncovered during an investigation by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force that began in February 2022. This investigation targeted a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization led by Tommie Haney and Quo Vadis Lewis.
The task force executed a search warrant at Gates's residence on June 28, 2023, recovering a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, over 420 grams of cocaine, more than $11,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Due to his prior felony convictions, Gates is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition legally.
In interviews with law enforcement officials, Gates admitted to selling cocaine for an extended period and identified himself as a source for Lewis and other distributors. He also revealed that he received large quantities of cocaine from what he believed were Mexican cartels.
Judge Conley noted several aggravating factors during sentencing: "Gates was identified as a primary source of cocaine for Quo Vadis Lewis and other distributors." He emphasized the significant amount of cocaine recovered, the presence of a loaded firearm, Gates's extensive criminal history involving violence, and his ongoing state supervision while engaging in drug trafficking activities.
Eight others have been charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Among them are Teala L. Kumbera and Shandel L. Mohr who have already been sentenced to federal prison terms for conspiracy charges related to distributing cocaine and methamphetamine.
The investigation into Gates's activities was conducted by multiple agencies under the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force with assistance from various local law enforcement bodies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted the case.
This operation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts among prosecutors and law enforcement agencies at all levels to tackle gun-related offenses involving felons illegally possessing firearms as well as violent crimes linked to drugs.
Additionally, it forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative designed to dismantle high-level drug traffickers using a collaborative approach between federal and local authorities.