Gairitt Schad was already on state probation when he committed federal crimes

MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Gairitt Schad, 28, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 ½ years in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Schad pleaded guilty to these charges on January 15, 2026.

On April 17, 2025, a law enforcement agent arranged to purchase crack cocaine from Schad at a local restaurant. When officers approached, Schad attempted to flee. Officers ultimately arrested Schad and in his vehicle, found approximately 114 grams of methamphetamine, 12 grams of crack cocaine, 55 grams of cocaine, 24 grams of heroin, counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills, and 24 Xanax pills. In the vehicle’s center console was a loaded .40 caliber handgun. Schad’s DNA was recovered on the slide of the handgun.

Schad was prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for first degree recklessly endangering safety, robbery, and eluding. He was on state probation at the time of his federal offenses.

At sentencing, Judge Peterson said that Schad was aware that his conduct could result in federal charges but committed the offenses anyway. Judge Peterson expressed concern that Schad would return to crime when released.

The charges against Schad were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. 

          Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).