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A Public Health Madison employee, Jacob Niesen, 40, faces drug trafficking charges after police intercepted three packages from the Netherlands containing illegal drugs.
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An accomplice told police Niesen ordered the contraband on the dark web and collected packages for delivery to Niesen in exchange for drugs or money, identifying Niesen using a jail booking photo.
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Police found 9.3 grams of ketamine inside a 3D printed dog paw, along with a digital scale, glass pipes, and a PHMDC lanyard.
The authorities have arrested Jacob Niesen, 40, and an employee Public Health Madison and Dane County, who worked as a program coordinator in the agency. The suspect is facing criminal charges in connection to packages of illegal drug shipment from the Netherlands.
Authorities began investigating after receiving tips. On April 13, police seized three international packages at the Park & Ride outside Sun Prairie that were sent to Niesen. The three packages contained large numbers of drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy, mephedrone, and N-ethylpentylone (a synthetic drug referred to as “bath salts”).
Packages Contained Enough Drugs for Thousands of Doses
The seized packages held substantial quantities of illegal substances. Police seized about 106 grams of N-Ethylpentylone, 263 grams of Mephedrone, and over 370 grams of MDMA typical dosage for one time of use, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, is 60 mg to 240 mg of MDMA. Bath salt doses measure only 5 to 20 milligrams based on a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
This indicates that the three packages contained a large enough volume of illicit substance to provide numerous individual uses of each type of major drug. The illicit drugs originated from the Netherlands, where there is ample evidence pointing to that country as a transit hub for synthetic drug importation into the US.
The packages bore the name of a fake recipient, Dakota Burns, addressed to a residence on Vista Road in Madison.
Accomplice Identified Niesen as the Dark Web Organizer
During a controlled buy on April 28, an undercover agent went to the Vista Road residence and made contact with a man living there. The man admitted that he had been picking up two to three packages each month. He told police that Jacob Niesen ordered the contraband on the dark web.
The man explained that his role involved collecting the packages and delivering them to Niesen. In exchange, Niesen would pay him with either drugs or money. This case is a classic example of how dark web drug purchases via mail eventually lead to arrests, as seen in a recent Florida man’s case.
The man identified Niesen using a Dane County Jail booking photo. Police also found messages on the man’s phone between the two discussing the movement of drugs.
The man had a medical prescription for ketamine due to a back injury and had developed an addiction to the drug.
Police Found Ketamine Hidden Inside a 3D-Printed Dog Paw
On April 28, law enforcement secured a search warrant for Niesen’s residence and arrested him. Police discovered a digital scale, unused glass pipes, ziplock-style plastic bags, and multiple packages of suspected ketamine hidden inside the containers of 3D printers, in addition to numerous packages of suspected ketamine weighing 9.3 grams, during the search.
Police also found 9.3 grams of ketamine concealed inside a plastic 3D printed dog paw. During questioning, Niesen allegedly confirmed that the substance inside the paw was ketamine. Officers also recovered a Public Health Madison and Dane County lanyard belonging to Niesen at the residence.
According to emails and documents obtained by Madison365, Niesen’s work at PHMDC included overdose data monitoring and addiction treatment programs. He had reportedly pushed for the agency to provide more drug checking materials for drug users.
Niesen had received a 15-day suspension last year for conducting private rehab facility work while on the clock for PHMDC. He also used city computers and IT services for unauthorized communications. An appeal later overturned that suspension.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office arrested Niesen for the offenses of operating a place for the drug trade, trafficking in a controlled substance, and manufacturing a controlled substance. They charged him with the first count at his arraignment, which is a class one felony and carries a maximum sentence of three years and a possible fine of $10,000.
On Thursday, Niesen pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges against his office. Conditions of Release include a $500 signature bond, where he only has to pay $500 for more than a first missed court date, and any other violation of the conditions of release. Niesen will have another court appearance scheduled for June 8.
