GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Stephen Preisler, an author known as “Uncle Fester” for his books on how make ricin, methamphetamine and other items – was charged Monday with a series of drug counts after police searched his east-side home Friday.
Preisler faces eight counts: four of manufacture or delivery of amphetamine, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possess methamphetamine precursors, and maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Also charged Monday in connection with the case were Stacy Olson, who faces three charges; Preslie McGaughey, who faces five charges; and Stephanie Tiegs, who faces seven counts.
In court Monday, Preisler’s bond was set at $100,000. He returns to court Aug. 2.
According to Preisler’s criminal complaint, police arranged for a confidential informant to purchase crystal meth from Preisler last month. Ten days later, another controlled drug buy was made. A third attempt was made, but Preisler did not have any drugs available that time.
On Friday, police searched the home on South Baird Street.
“A search of 826 S. Baird Street was conducted and yielded 114.37 of cocaine-base, 328.26 grams of methamphetamine, 3.67 grams of marijuana, 385.78 grams of unknown controlled substances, 6 prescription pills, drug paraphernalia, and equipment consistent with a clandestine methamphetamine lab; later disposed of by the DCI CLEAR Team,” the complaint states.
The search also turned up multiple copies of books, including “Practical LSD Manufacture”, “Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture 8th Edition”, and “Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic & Amphetamine Manufacture”, all by Uncle Fester.
“Based on my training, experience, and knowledge of this investigation, I believed these books contained working knowledge of how to synthesize controlled substance, most notably methamphetamine. “Uncle Fester” which I knew to be PREISLER authored these books,” the complaint states.
Although several people were charged, the complaint points to Preisler as the primary operative.
“Based on my knowledge of this investigation, PREISLER was the only individual who had access to the basement, which was where the clandestine lab was located,” the complaint states.
“The amount of methamphetamine located at 826 S. Baird Street (328.26 grams) could provide the average user enough methamphetamine to last them approximately 328-3,282 days. The same amount could provide a heavy user of methamphetamine for approximately 65 days. The average price of methamphetamine in the Brown County area is $150-$200 for “a ball”, or 3.5 grams. PREISLER possessed approximately $49,239-$65,652 worth of methamphetamine for profit. The amount of cocaine-base located at 826 S. Baird Street had a resale value of approximately $11,437.”
The complaint does not cite any comments from Preisler.
Preisler attended Marquette University with a degree in chemistry and biology. In a 2009 interview with WITI-TV, Preisler said that he got the nickname “Uncle Fester” from his college years. According to Wisconsin court records, Preisler was previously charged with distributing a controlled substance back in 1981.
