Madison Man Charged With Drug and Gun Crimes
MADISON, WIS. – A Madison, Wisconsin man is charged with drug and gun crimes in an indictment returned on May 11, 2022, by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison. The charges are announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
The indictment charges Michael S. Murphy, 47, with two counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl, one count of distributing heroin, possessing heroin and fentanyl and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment alleges that Murphy distributed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl on October 5 and 13, 2021, distributed heroin on November 30, 2021, and possessed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl as well as crack cocaine for distribution on December 5, 2021. The indictment further alleges that on December 5, 2021, Murphy possessed two 9mm handguns and a .45 caliber handgun, and 9mm, .45 caliber and .380 ammunition, and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment was unsealed following Murphy’s arrest on June 1 in Madison by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued at the time the indictment was returned. Murphy made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison on June 1 and remains in federal custody. A date has not been set for his next court appearance.
If convicted, Murphy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the drug charges, a maximum of 10 years on the charge of being a felon in possession of firearms. The charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime has a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and federal law requires that any penalty imposed for this charge be served consecutive to any sentence imposed.
The charges against Murphy are the result of an investigation by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson is handling the prosecution.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
