CRAWFORD COUNTY - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeffrey Costillo, 33, Blaine, Minnesota, and Denise Kraimer, 27, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Costillo was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 to 84 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. He pleaded guilty to this charge on October 8, 2020.
Kraimer was sentenced Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 to 60 months in federal prison. She pleaded guilty on October 1, 2020. Costillo and Kraimer’s prison terms will each be followed by four years of supervised release.
On August 13, 2019, law enforcement officers worked with a confidential informant to set up the purchase of approximately three ounces of methamphetamine from a female identified as Denise Kraimer. The confidential informant had purchased methamphetamine from Kraimer in the past and said she was usually accompanied by a male, according to the U.S. Attorney. Kraimer agreed to drive from Minnesota to Prairie du Chien to complete the sale of methamphetamine.
On the early morning of August 14, 2019, Kraimer and Jeffrey Costillo parked their car at the location agreed upon with the confidential informant, according to the U.S. Attorney office. Law enforcement officers quickly made contact with Kraimer and Costillo and searched their car. Inside the glove box, officers located two clear plastic bags which contained over 107 grams of methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking was also located in the glove box.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit, performed an open free air sniff of a 2006 BMW with Minnesota registration, parked near the downtown area of Prairie du Chien. K-9 Breck alerted to the presence of one or more controlled substances within the BMW.
A search of the vehicle yielded two plastic bags, each containing large quantities of a crystal-like substance, according to the sheriff’s department. The crystal substance later field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately four ounces.
The vehicle contained several other items indicative of trafficking methamphetamine, the sheriff’s department reported.
When interviewed, Kraimer denied any involvement in drug trafficking. However, a later search of her Facebook account revealed many conversations involving Kraimer setting up sales of methamphetamine, with quantities up to a quarter pound. Costillo claimed to be there more as Kraimer’s bodyguard, though he admitted to knowing they had a large quantity of methamphetamine with them that they were going to sell.
The charge against Costillo and Kraimer was the result of an investigation conducted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Prairie du Chien Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson.
