(UPDATE July 17,2023)
GREEN BAY, WI — A Green Bay man arrested in a raid at his home for running a meth lab is now officially charged in that case. 65-year-old Stephen Preisler makes an initial appearance in Brown County Court this (Monday) afternoon. Preisler is charged with eight counts relating to methamphetamine production and distribution, cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Preisler is know by his pen name “Uncle Fester” for publishing online formulas for deadly chemical agents and meth.
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GREEN BAY, WI — A raid by Green Bay Police Department and Brown County Sheriff’s Office SWAT teams Friday stopped a methamphetamine lab from operating at a South Baird Street home. It also resulted in the arrest of 65-year old Stephen Preisler, also known as “Uncle Fester”, which is a reference to the Addams Family character known for dabbling in explosives. Preisler wrote books and blog articles detailing formulas for making deadly chemical agents, like ricin, explosives and meth. William Galvin, 4th District Alder and a retired Green Bay Police officer, was aware of Preisler’s publications, which are protected under the U.S Constitution. Galvin says Preisler’s name came up in complaints from neighbors who weren’t aware of Preisler’s previous activities.
“Complaints were disturbances, wild parties, people fighting, glass breaking, people from the house in people’s backyards, drug paraphernalia being found in their backyards and on the sidewalk,” Galvin says. “And then when they found out who he was, they became even more concerned based on his past history.”
Galvin says neighbors waited long for law enforcement action and credits their assistance with Preisler’s arrest.
“I worked with the community police officers. They worked with the drug task force,” Galvin says. “And it took awhile. The neighbors weren’t happy. But the cooperated. They helped the police. In fact, without that cooperation I don’t know if we would have had an arrest.”
Galvin first became aware of Preisler’s activities during his long career with the Green Bay Police Department. Some of Preisler’s publications were found among a Japanese cult responsible for a deadly ricin release in a subway. However, Galvin says local law enforcement couldn’t take action because his publications were protected under the First Amendment. Preisler is in the Brown County Jail without bond awaiting an appearance in court.