Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment charging Jonathan E. Conley, a 43-year-old resident of Madison, Wisconsin, with drug trafficking offenses involving methamphetamine and fentanyl. The announcement was made by Timothy M. O’Shea, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The indictment accuses Conley of distributing fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on October 24, 2023. Additionally, it alleges that he possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl for distribution on February 7, 2024. These charges were formalized by a federal grand jury in Madison on April 2, 2025.
Conley was apprehended in Dane County and has since appeared in federal court. He remains detained as he awaits a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, May 9.
If found guilty of distributing or possessing large quantities of methamphetamine or fentanyl, Conley faces a minimum prison sentence of five years and could be sentenced to up to forty years. For other related charges, the maximum penalty is twenty years imprisonment.
The investigation leading to these charges involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, New Lisbon Police Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson.
It is important to note that these charges are accusations at this stage; Conley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.