In Waushara County, a significant legal proceeding recently brought two previously convicted felons back into the spotlight. John D. Taylor, 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison followed by five years’ supervised release on April 15. His charges, to which he pled guilty, included dealing firearms without a license, illegal possession of firearms, transfer and possession of machineguns, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activities. A related case saw Allison A. Mundt, 31, receiving a seven-year prison sentence and five years of supervised release on November 22, 2024, for similar crimes.
An in-depth investigation, initiated in early 2024, allowed law enforcement officers to gradually uncover the operations of Taylor and Mundt. These actions eventually led them to arrange controlled purchases of firearms and methamphetamine, which culminated with a search warrant execution. The findings of the operations are staggering—approximately 35 different firearms, including machineguns and other high-capacity weaponry, were seized. Officers also found drum magazines, over 1,700 rounds of ammunition, and an ounce of methamphetamine poised for distribution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, in sentencing the defendants, underlined the gravity of their crimes. "Trafficking in firearms without a license circumvents background checks, increasing the risk that firearms will end up in the hands of convicted felons and other prohibited persons," he noted on U.S. Attorney's Office, asserting the compounded danger when the firearms in question include machineguns and high-capacity rifles and pistols. The court highlighted the egregiousness of this criminal conduct, given the defendants' past felonies and their continued involvement in the methamphetamine trade.
The combined efforts of the Waushara County Sheriff's Department, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group Drug Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led to the breakthrough in this case. The prosecution was carried out by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnel, who ensured that justice served, not only to punish the wrongdoers but to invariably send a firm message to would-be perpetrators aiming to similarly defy the law.
