Oconto residents sent to federal prison for meth sales

McNamara and Olson were arrested a year ago
By: 
NEW Media Staff

Two Oconto residents have been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced Benjamin McNamara, 33, and Kristine Olson, 32, both of Oconto, were sentenced along with Gregory Ives, 41, of Mounds View, Minnesota.

Chief Judge William C. Griesbach imposed a 10-year prison term followed by 10 years of supervised release for McNamara. Olson received a six-year prison sentence followed by six years of supervised release. Ives was given 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

According to the indictment and other court documents, between June and September 2018, Oconto County Sheriff narcotics investigators met with several confidential informants who advised that Olson was selling methamphetamine in Oconto County and surrounding areas. In September, Investigators tracked Olson and McNamara as they traveled to Minnesota, where they had been purchasing multiple ounce quantities of methamphetamine from Ives.

On Sept. 27, 2018, law enforcement stopped Olson and McNamara in their vehicle upon returning from Minnesota. Court documents indicate a search of their car revealed a bag containing 212 grams of methamphetamine (later tested to be approximately 98% pure) and 11 separate baggies containing 44 grams of methamphetamine. Ives was later arrested for selling the methamphetamine to Olson and McNamara.

McNamara and Olson were charged in Oconto County Circuit Court last October, but their cases were dismissed and transferred to the federal court in Green Bay.

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation, Oconto County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Wisconsin State Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Roach.