Sauk County men sentenced in federal court for fentanyl trafficking

SAUK COUNTY, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Two Sauk County men have been sentenced in federal court for fentanyl trafficking. In separate sentences, Kenneth O. Phillips, 40 of Wisconsin Dells, and Brandon S. Stevens, 44 of Reedsburg, were sentenced for their roles in a fentanyl pill trafficking group operating in Sauk County and surrounding areas. Two others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Co-defendants Ames Basham and Chrystal Mueller have both pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in the coming months.

The investigation revealed that a co-defendant, Ames Basham, was mailing parcels containing fentanyl pills from California to Kenneth Phillips, another co-defendant Chrystal Mueller, and Brandon Stevens at various addresses in Wisconsin for local distribution. The pills were blue and marked “M30,” which should have been prescription Oxycodone pills. In fact, the pills contained fentanyl and other substances. Nineteen parcels of fentanyl pills were mailed from California to Wisconsin between January and April 2022. The USPIS intercepted parcels addressed to Phillips, Mueller, and Stevens in March and April.

Phillips was identified as the local leader of the group. He provided addresses to Basham, who in turn mailed the drug-laden parcels to Wisconsin. Stevens worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and would pick up parcels mailed by Basham that were on his route and bring them to his partner, Mueller. He also identified an abandoned residence on his mail route where drug parcels could be mailed. Phillips and Mueller sold the fentanyl pills locally.

Kenneth Phillips was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to six years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by four years of supervised release. Brandon Stevens was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Both pled guilty to the charges in September.

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