Fox Valley man sentenced to prison on drug and firearms charges

(WLUK) — A Fox Valley man was sentenced to prison Tuesday on drug and firearms charges.

Joseph D. Charlesworth, 35, will spend 10 years in prison and seven years on supervised release after pleading guilty as a convicted felon to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of firearms.

Officials say agents from the Lake Winnebago Area Metro Drug Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) targeted Charlesworth in August 2023 for distribution of fentanyl, possession of firearms as a convicted felon, and trafficking in firearms discovered without a license.

During a traffic stop, agents arrested Charlesworth on outstanding warrants. According to authorities, he had fentanyl that he planned to distribute and a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine in his waistband.

Charlesworth had previously been convicted of crimes including distributing heroin. He also faces additional charges in state court for distributing the fentanyl, which was used in two overdose deaths. These cases are pending in Outagamie and Waupaca counties.

According to a news release, Charlesworth received the 9mm handgun from 28-year-old Tyler A. Lamers, who purchased it from a Fox Valley gun dealer in exchange for drugs at Charlesworth's request.

Lamers purchased the handgun by falsely claiming on the federal background check form that he was purchasing it for himself, when in fact he was purchasing it for Charlesworth, who was prohibited by state and federal law from owning firearms as a convicted felon.

Lamers was convicted in April and sentenced to 15 months in prison for making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer.