Oxycodone pills allegedly picked up in Milwaukee to distribute up north

Lawrence

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has announced two federal indictments were handed down last month that involve seven individuals, six from the Northwoods, on charges related to illegally distributing opioid pain medication known as Oxycodone.

Bruette

U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad noted a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment related to distributing Oxycodone against: Lance Bruette, 34, of Minocqua; Orvin Kay, 57, of Milwaukee; Frank Lawrence, 38, of St. Germain; Mitchell Plantikow, 29, of Woodruff; Troy Plantikow, 52, Woodruff; and Lacey Stanick, 31, Woodruff.

Stanick

In that indictment, all six defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute Oxycodone. Three other counts allege that on various dates in late 2016 and early 2017 Kay distributed Oxycodone in violation of federal law. Three more counts allege that on those same dates Bruette illegally possessed Oxycodone with the intent to distribute it. Another count against Kay alleges on Feb. 2 he possessed Oxycodone with intent to distribute it.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Kay, certain individuals who resided in northern Wisconsin and are accused of being involved in conspiring to distribute Oxycodone would drive to Milwaukee and pick up hundreds of 30-milligram Oxycodone pills per week from Kay. They then allegedly would distribute those pills to individual users, as well as other co-conspirators who would then sell the pills to other individuals.

Hueckstaedt

In a related matter, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Lee Hueckstaedt, 31, of Rhinelander, for possessing Oxycodone with the intent to deliver.

Hueckstaedt was charged with possessing Oxycodone with the intent to distribute it on various dates in late 2016 in violation of federal law. According to the criminal complaint against him, Hueckstaedt allegedly is a large-scale Oxycodone dealer in the Eagle River/Rhinelander area. The complaint further states that on the dates charged, Hueckstaedt drove to Milwaukee and picked up hundreds (240, 400 and 611, respectively) of 30-milligram Oxycodone pills from Kay.

A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice lists the maximum penalty for all of the charges as being 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The press release further states the investigation into the Oxycodone distribution is ongoing with more indictments expected.

The listed agencies involved in the investigation include the Minocqua Police Department, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Vilas County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency – Milwaukee (Tactical Division Squad).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary J. Corey and Benjamin Wesson.