Crime & Safety

Caledonia Dermatologist Faces Federal Drug Charges

Doctor and others accused of buying cocaine in Illinois, selling it in Wisconsin.

A Caledonia dermatologist is among seven people facing federal drug charges that were filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday.

A grand jury charged Dr. Steven L. Armus, 50, of Caledonia; Darin Engquist; Dr. Michael A. Ganz; and Shawnna M. Green with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine between February 2006 and March 2009. Three other people were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Armus is co-founder of Great Lakes Dermatology.

Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the indictment, Armus allegedly bought cocaine in Illinois and other unnamed places, brought the cocaine back to Wisconsin and distributed the drugs among a group for wholesale and retail distribution.

A grand jury also charged Armus with:

Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Six counts of possessing cocaine with the intention of distributing the drug on Feb. 19, 20, and 27, and March 14, 17 and 20, 2009. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and fines of up to $16.25 million.
  • Possession of a firearm across state lines for having a 12-gauge shotgun.

A grand jury also charged:

  • Ganz, of Racine, with one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Racine. If convicted of the conspiracy charge and this one, Ganz faces up to life in prison and $11 million in fines.
  • Mike Kraft, of Glendale, with two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Sturtevant and Waterford. If convicted of both counts, Kraft faces up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $2 million.
  • Matthew Fillmer, of Waukesha, with two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Kenosha and Waterford. If convicted of both counts, Fillmer faces up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $2 million.
  • Robert Pasquali, of Oak Creek, with two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Kenosha. If convicted of both counts, Pasquali faces up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $2 million.
  • Green, of Kenosha, with four counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Kenosha. If convicted of conspiracy and these other four charges, she faces up to 90 years to life in prison and up to a $14 million fine.

Armus already was in hot water with local authorities after he was charged in 2009 in Kenosha County Circuit Court with a felony count of possession of cocaine. That charge landed Armus in front of the Medical Examiner's Board.

According to an order filed in August with the state Medical Examiner’s Board, deputies with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department stopped Armus during a traffic stop in February 2009. He had two bags of cocaine, totaling 26 grams, in his possession.

He has not been convicted on those charges and the case remains open.

Medical Examiner's Board order states that on March 27, 2009, Armus was diagnosed with a dependence on cocaine. By March 31, 2009, an Illinois-based drug rehabilitation program noted that Armus had “made significant progress” and he had committed to doing random urine tests 56 times a year.

Armus’ license was suspended. But the suspension was stayed if Armus was in compliance with the order, and he has been.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.