Federal Jury Convicts Madison Man of Drug Trafficking

MADISON, WIS. - A Madison, Wisconsin, man has been convicted of distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl and for possessing those same drugs for distribution. Johnathan Conley, 44, was convicted following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison. The jury reached a verdict yesterday after just over six hours of deliberation. The guilty verdict is announced by Chadwick M. Elgersma, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Following the guilt phase, Conley stipulated that prior to these offenses, he had been convicted of a serious drug felony as also alleged in the superseding indictment.

The government presented evidence at trial that on October 24, 2023, Conley distributed approximately 770 grams of methamphetamine and 29 grams of fentanyl to an individual, who was later arrested in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, with the drugs in her vehicle. The government also presented evidence that on February 7, 2024, Conley possessed approximately 204 grams of methamphetamine and 44 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution. The drugs were recovered at a residence in Madison.

A witness from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory confirmed the chemical composition of the controlled substances. A separate witness from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory testified that Conley's DNA was present on several of the baggies recovered from the vehicle and several of the baggies recovered from the residence. A witness from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration testified that the quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl found in the residence were consistent with an intent to distribute the drugs rather than an intent to use the drugs personally.

Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2026. Conley faces a minimum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

The case was investigated by the New Lisbon Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Ginsberg and Steve Anderson.