Public Health Madison Dane County (PHMDC) program coordinator Jacob Niesen was arrested Tuesday and formally charged Thursday after police say they intercepted packages containing hundreds of grams of drugs known as “bath salts” and MDMA, enough for thousands of doses, and subsequently found illegal ketamine at his residence, according to court records.
According to emails and other documents obtained by Madison365, Niesen’s work with PHMDC included activities like overdose data monitoring and addiction treatment, and that he wanted the agency to do more to provide drug checking materials for drug users.
PHMDC officials did not immediately respond to email and phone messages asking whether Niesen’s job offered him access to people in addiction.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Court, officers were called to the Park & Ride outside Sun Prairie, where they acquired three packages from the Netherlands addressed to Dakota Bruns in Madison. Between the three packages, they say they found about 106 grams of N-ethylepentylone and 263 grams of mephedrone, both illegal drugs commonly known as “bath salts,” and more than 370 grams of MDMA, often known as “ecstasy” or “Molly.” A typical dose of MDMA is between 60 and 240 milligrams, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and a typical dose of bath salt is five to 20 milligrams, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. That means the three packages had enough drugs for thousands of doses.
Police say they delivered the packages to the address on the packages, and detained the man who came to pick them up. He told police that he had picked up and delivered packages to Niesen in the past, using the alias Dakota Bruns, in exchange for ketamine. He verified Niesen’s home address.
After obtaining a search warrant, police say they discovered packages of ketamine, a digital scale, 3D printed containers, and glass pipes in the home, including some hidden in ductwork.
Dane County Sheriff’s Office records indicate Niesen was initially arrested on charges of maintaining a place of drug trafficking, possession of illegal narcotics with intent to deliver, and manufacturing of designer drugs. He was arraigned in Dane County Court on Thursday only on the charge of maintaining a place of drug trafficking; Sheriff’s Office records indicate the other two charges were dismissed.
The Dane County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a message asking whether additional charges could be filed later.
The single charge filed to date is a class I felony, and if convicted, Niesen could face three and a half years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
Niesen was released after an initial appearance Thursday on a $500 signature bond.
Records obtained by Madison365 indicate Niesen was issued a 15-day suspension last year for conducting work related to a private rehab facility while on the clock for PHMDC, using City of Madison computers and IT services, and for unauthorized communications on bahelf of PHMDC. The suspension was overturned on appeal.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
