Eastern District of Wisconsin
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Wisconsin and New York City Schools Official Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 18, 2020, David A. Hay (age: 40) most recently of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment for his receipt of child pornography.
According to court filings, in May of 2010, while living and employed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David A. Hay exchanged emails with a 15-year-old child. During the course of those communications, the defendant received sexually explicit digital images and videos from the child. Hay also provided sexually explicit images of himself to the 15-year-old.
Hay was principal at Tomah High School from 2011 through 2014. Prior to that, Hay was principal at Kettle Moraine High School from 2008 through 2011 before resigning following the school district’s discovery of irregularities with Hay’s licensing and the misuse of a district credit card. Most recently, Hay served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the New York City Chancellor of Schools.
Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach called Hay’s actions “abominable for a man in his position” and emphasized the gravity of his conduct which involved inappropriate personal interactions with underage children as opposed to the passive receipt of child pornography. In addition to the 60 months of imprisonment, Hay will spend 10 years on supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the City of Neenah Police Department with the assistance of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Oneida Woman Indicted for Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 15, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Dianne McLester-Heim (Age: 46) of Oneida for allegedly stealing money while employed by the Oneida Community Health Center.
The indictment charges McLester-Heim with Theft of Government Property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. If convicted, the defendant faces up to ten years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years on supervised release. The charge also carries a $100 special assessment.
According to the indictment, between August 2019 and January 2020, McLester-Heim allegedly submitted a total of $12,509.59 in fraudulent medical reimbursement claims while employed as a Purchased/Referred Care supervisor at the Oneida Community Health Center. Officials with the Oneida Nation noticed the alleged fraud and conducted an investigation, which led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
As a component of DHHS, Indian Health Services collaborates with the Oneida Nation and other Native American tribes to provide health care for Native Americans throughout the United States. Fraud investigations by both tribal and federal authorities ensures the United States government can continue to meet its unique responsibility to provide health care services for Native Americans.
The case was investigated by the Oneida Police Department and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Grafton, Wisconsin, Dentist Indicted for Health Care Fraud Scheme That Involved Purposefully Damaging Patients’ TeethRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 15, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Scott Charmoli (age: 60) of Grafton, Wisconsin, for pursuing a health care fraud scheme that involved purposefully damaging patients’ teeth so that he could bill insurance companies for crown procedures.
According to the indictment, beginning on or about January 1, 2016, Charmoli engaged in a scheme whereby Charmoli falsely advised patients that they needed crowns, purposefully damaged the patients’ teeth during crown procedures, and subsequently submitted x-rays and photographs of the damaged teeth to insurance companies to obtain insurance coverage for the crowns. The indictment asserts that by submitting x-rays and photographs of teeth he had purposefully altered, Charmoli made materially false and fraudulent statements to insurance companies in connection with the delivery of, and payment for, health care benefits. The indictment alleges that Charmoli performed over $2,000,000 worth of crown procedures just between January 1, 2018, and August 7, 2019.
The indictment charges Charmoli with multiple counts of Health Care Fraud and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 18 U.S.C. § 1035. If convicted, Charmoli faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 Special Assessment.
“The Justice Department focuses on prosecuting health care fraud not only to protect health care funds but also to protect patients who entrust their well being to providers,” said United States Attorney Krueger.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Michael A. Carter will prosecute.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
Manitowoc Resident Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 15, 2020, Keynan J. Juul (age: 23) of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was sentenced to ten years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A).
According to court documents, on April 24, 2020, Two Rivers Police observed Juul leaving a known drug location. Juul was driving with a suspended license. The officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Juul drove off at a high rate of speed, leading the officers on a high speed chase that at times reached 110 MPH. While pursuing Juul, the officers observed him throwing items from the vehicle. Officers recovered the items which included approximately 90 grams of methamphetamine and various items of drug paraphernalia. The pursuit ended when Juul lost control and struck another vehicle.
In pronouncing sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Juul’s offense and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Juul and anyone else who might attempt to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Juul’s incarceration in federal prison for a term of ten years to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Two Rivers Police Department and the Manitowoc County Metropolitan Enforcement Group. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
Keshena Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearm on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 8, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Martin W. Penass, a/k/a “Aptickasic Hawpetoss” (age: 42), of Keshena, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g). If convicted, Penass faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, up to three years on supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 Special Assessment.
According to the indictment, on or about June 25, 2020, despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so, Penass possessed a semiautomatic rifle of a design commonly referred to as an “AR-15” while at a remote area outside Neopit, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://go.usa.gov/xpBrs
The Menominee Tribal Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Keshena Man Indicted for Burglary & Unlawful Possession of Firearms on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 8, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Austin A. Kaquatosh (age: 27), formerly of Keshena, for his alleged involvement in a burglary and unlawful possession of firearms during an incident at a residence on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment contains the following counts:
COUNT
CHARGE
MAXIMUM SENTENCE
One
Burglary
18 U.S.C. § 1153 and Wis. Stat. § 943.10(am)(a)
90 months in prison
Two
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2)
120 months in prison
If convicted, in addition to the maximum imprisonment terms listed above, Kaquatosh would face fines and a term of supervised release.
According to the indictment, on or about June 9, 2020, Kaquatosh entered a residence without permission and stole several items, including firearms. In doing so, Kaquatosh allegedly possessed a firearm despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://go.usa.gov/xpBrs
The Menominee Tribal Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Waukesha Man Faces Federal Charges for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 1, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Cornelius M. Jackson (age 31) of Waukesha, Wisconsin, charging him with sex trafficking offenses that spanned over six years and multiple states.
Count One alleges that from 2014 through August 2020, Jackson conspired with others to use force, fraud, and coercion to cause victims to engage in commercial sex acts in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594. Counts Two through Five allege that Jackson used force, fraud, and coercion to cause four individual victims to engage in commercial sex acts, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) & 1591(b)(1).
If convicted of any of the counts, Jackson faces up to life in prison. If convicted of Count Two, Three, Four, or Five, Jackson would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and up to a life term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Jackson also faces a fine of up to $250,000 per count.
“Sex trafficking is a brutal crime that dehumanizes its victims,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “These important charges resulted from extraordinary collaboration among law enforcement agencies who demonstrated remarkable determination in conducting this investigation.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, Milwaukee Police Department, Waukesha Police Department, and Oneida Police Department, in collaboration with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Abbey M. Marzick.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Manitowoc Couple Indicted on Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 1, 2020, a federal grand jury indictment was issued against Malachi R. Hetzer (age: 29) and Breanna E. Pieschel (age: 32) both of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Hetzer and Pieschel conspired to distribute in excess of five grams of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and 841(b)(1)(A). “Actual” methamphetamine possesses a high level of purity and is also known as “crystal” methamphetamine or “ice.” If convicted of the charge, Hetzer and Pieschel face a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment. They face a fine of up to $5,000,000 and from four years to a lifetime on supervised release.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Group. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Green Bay Man Indicted on Human Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 1, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Darryl K. Green (age: 53) of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Green faces charges alleging he attempted to entice a minor to engage in a commercial sex act contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591(a)(1), (b)(2), and (c). It further alleges that he used that same minor to produce a pornographic image of the child in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).
If convicted of the child pornography charge, Green faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. He would also be required to register as a sex offender. The human trafficking charge carries a mandatory ten years’ imprisonment and up to a lifetime of incarceration.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Green Bay Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Green Bay office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Daniel R. Humble.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Former Oconomowoc Investment Broker Charged with $2.6 Million Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Defendant Alleged to Have Defrauded at Least 23 Clients, Many of Whom Are Elderly
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced that, on November 25, 2020, he issued a three-count information charging Edward Matthes (age: 50) with wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and that Matthes has entered into an agreement to plead guilty to the charges.
According to the written plea agreement filed in the case, Matthes, who previously was employed as an independent investment broker for Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. (MOIS), devised and executed a scheme to defraud his clients and to obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses and representations. The essence of Matthes’ scheme was to persuade clients to transfer investment funds from their existing accounts to a new MOIS-sponsored account, which Matthes claimed would perform better. Instead of opening new MOIS accounts for his clients, Matthes deposited their money into his personal bank accounts and converted it to his own use. Matthes lulled his clients into believing their investments were performing well by sending fictitious MOIS account statements and by phoning and meeting with clients to discuss the performance of their investments. According to the plea agreement, Matthes fraudulently obtained more than $2.6 million dollars from at least 23 clients, many of whom are elderly.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following any prison term.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Matthes has agreed to a 13-year debarment period, during which he will be prohibited from participating in, or having decision-making authority over, any employee benefit plan.
An information is only a charging document, and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States Attorney Krueger commended the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Oconomowoc Police Department during the investigation of this matter.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Federal Firearm and Methamphetamine Charges Result from Initiative to Address Violent Crime in Green BayRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 24, 2020, a federal criminal complaint against John Yang (age: 32) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was issued stemming from an arrest on November 23, 2020, in the 700 block of West Walnut Street, in the City of Green Bay.
The complaint alleges that Yang possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drug to others. It further alleges that while resisting arrest, a .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm fell from Yang’s waistband. The firearm was loaded and had an obliterated serial number. Yang, a convicted felon, is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm. Yang also stands accused of possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Based on the current charges and his criminal history, Yang faces a mandatory 15 years of imprisonment and a possible life sentence if convicted on all charges.
The federal charges resulted from a renewed effort under Project Guardian to join federal and local law enforcement resources to address the recent increase in violent crime in Green Bay. Through this initiative, federal prosecutors and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are working with the Brown County District Attorney’s Office and the Green Bay Police Department to identify individuals associated with firearms offenses for federal prosecution.
“We know that drug trafficking goes hand-in-hand with firearms and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “The Justice Department is committed to working with law enforcement partners in Green Bay to ensure that all of its residents can enjoy safe neighborhoods.”
Project Guardian is one of the U.S. Department of Justice’s initiatives to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the ATF when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Green Bay Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Fourteen People Charged with Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine in Racine, WisconsinRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that 14 defendants have been charged in federal court in connection with a drug trafficking organization that operated in Racine, Wisconsin, with ties to Chicago, Illinois. The indictment charges the defendants with trafficking more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and more than 28 grams of cocaine base in the form of “crack” cocaine. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and up to forty years in prison.
On November 18, 2020, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers conducted a significant operation that led to the arrest of 10 of these defendants. The officers also executed search warrants in Racine. As a result of the investigation, officers seized 7 firearms, including a shotgun and ammunition; quantities of drugs, including over 200 grams of heroin, over 100 grams of crack cocaine, over 50 grams of fentanyl, and various quantities of suboxone strips, oxycodone pills and PCP. Officers also seized approximately $8,000 in U.S. currency. No one was injured during the operation.
United States Attorney Krueger said in announcing this takedown: “Drug trafficking organizations fuel our nation’s twin epidemics of drug addiction and firearms violence. These arrests underscore the extraordinary collaboration among all levels of law enforcement to pursue drug traffickers and hold them accountable.”
The defendants charged in this law enforcement action are:
Name
Age
Residence
RONNIE R. MITCHELL
42
Racine, WI and Chicago IL
DEVEREAUX A. PATTON
44
Racine
STEVIE L. PATTON JR.
28
Racine
APRIL C. DAVIS
27
Racine
MARTIESE D. HUDSON
37
Racine
BRIAN J. EDWARDS
59
Racine
TERRY N. MCLAIN
50
Racine
ANGELA M. BRZINSKI
33
Racine
ANNA N. LAWRENCE
34
Racine
MENACHIN O. BROWN
37
Racine
ALEXANDER MONETTE
53
Racine
BRIAN N. SAUNDERS JR.
21
Racine
LAMARR D. MCCLELLAN
41
Racine
DESHAWN T. CHATMAN
29
Racine
“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is committed to working with its local, state and federal law enforcement partners to keep Wisconsin citizens safe from drug trafficking and the violence that is always associated with it. Today’s arrests show the resolve of law enforcement to bring to justice those who profit from the national drug epidemic,” said DEA Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said: “Shared resources and intelligence among law enforcement partners led to the successful takedown of an organized drug trafficking operation, and the arrests of multiple subjects. The FBI’s Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Gang Task Force in Racine will continue to work with our partners to keep our communities free of drugs and violence.”
“Drug dealers profit from putting dangerous, addictive, and oftentimes deadly poison into the hands of our community. They also frequently possess firearms to further their criminal enterprise,” said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling. “This extensive, protracted investigation, and ultimately the outcome, would not have been possible without the collaborative effort of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. This operation is a huge win for the law abiding citizens of Racine County. “
“The Racine Police Department would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI, along with all the local law enforcement agencies for this collaborative investigation. We will continue to strive to make the greater Racine community a great place to live,” said Art Howell, Chief of Police, City of Racine Police Department.
Mount Pleasant Police Department Chief of Police Matt Soens stated, “The Mount Pleasant Police Department supports the enforcement and prosecution of dangerous drug traffickers that contribute to drug addiction, drug overdoses, and violence throughout our communities. Through the assistance of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we are able to thoroughly investigate these traffickers and hold them accountable.”
The defendants were charged based on an investigation led by law enforcement agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Racine County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Kenosha Police Department, the City of Racine Police Department, and the City of Mount Pleasant Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mario Gonzales is prosecuting the case.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Odanah Man Receives 48-month Prison Sentence for Aggravated Assault on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Justin Moore (age: 34), a former resident of the Menominee Indian Reservation, was sentenced to federal prison for Domestic Assault by Strangulation. Moore, an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, pleaded guilty to the charge on August 7, 2020. At a hearing on November 16, 2020, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach imposed a total sentence of 48 months in prison, followed by 36 months on supervised release.
According to court records, on December 1, 2019, Moore strangled a woman, with whom he was involved in a domestic relationship, while at a residence in Keshena, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The woman sustained injuries during the incident that required medical attention.
In sentencing Moore, Judge Griesbach observed that Moore engaged in a “cruel” offense, made even more aggravated by the presence of children. Judge Griesbach noted Moore’s “tormenting” of the victim and her child “cries out for severe punishment.” Judge Griesbach emphasized the need to protect the public from the defendant and observed the need to deter others who might consider engaging in violence against women.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Ohio Man Arrested and Indicted for Burglary Heist of Brookfield Jeweler Resulting in $7 Million LossRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 3, 2020, James Patrick Quinn (age: 55) of Youngstown, Ohio, was charged by criminal complaint for his involvement in the July 12, 2016, burglary of Treiber & Straub Jewelers in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Quinn was arrested on November 10, 2020, and a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Quinn on November 17, 2020.
According to the charging documents, three disguised individuals broke into Treiber & Straub Jewelers in Brookfield, Wisconsin, breached the store’s vault, and took a large quantity of goods and merchandise. The three burglars were captured by surveillance video. They cut communications lines and disabled exterior lighting and alarms to evade detection, and forced their way inside the store. The indictment alleges that Quinn and his co-actors conspired to carry out this burglary, and to transport and sell the stolen proceeds of the theft in interstate commerce. As part of the conspiracy, Quinn allegedly traveled to Wisconsin on at least two occasions, and returned to Ohio shortly after the burglary. According to the complaint, the value of the jewelry, diamonds, watches, and other valuables taken was estimated at over $7 million.
The complaint further alleges that Quinn possessed and attempted to conceal materials connected to gemstones that were taken during the burglary, and that a smartphone belonging to Quinn contained location information placing the device in the Brookfield area in the hours before the burglary. The indictment charges Quinn with Conspiracy to Commit Offenses against the United States, Transportation of Stolen Goods, and Sale or Receipt of Stolen Goods. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years’ imprisonment for the conspiracy count, as well as ten years’ imprisonment on each of the stolen property counts.
“As alleged, Quinn and his co-actors engaged in a sophisticated, high-stakes heist,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “The charges resulted from excellent cooperation and dogged investigation by the FBI and its state and local law enforcement partners.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge, Robert Hughes said “The FBI has a long history of working with our law enforcement partners to investigate multimillion dollar criminal enterprises. I commend the efforts our special agents and local police departments in working collaboratively, interstate to bring those responsible to justice
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Brookfield (WI) Police Department, with assistance from the Canfield (OH) Police Department, Boardman (OH) Police Department, and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Kwaterski and Farris Martini.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Oshkosh Resident, Stopped by Operation Kick Boxer, Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 12, 2020, Martin E. McKeever (age: 51) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for distribution of child pornography.
According to court records, McKeever, a longtime youth hockey and lacrosse coach, possessed and distributed numerous digital images and videos of child pornography. McKeever’s indictment and subsequent conviction were part of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. (https://go.usa.gov/xfPHh).
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, McKeever will spend five years on supervised release. McKeever also will be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee and Green Bay Offices, as well as the Manitowoc and Winnebago County Sheriffs’ Offices. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Former Police Chief and Sheriff Candidate Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 13, 2020, Alexander P. Bebris (age: 51) of Denmark, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for distribution of child pornography.
According to court records, in September of 2018, Facebook notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one of its users had sent images of child pornography via its messenger system to another Facebook user account. The Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce launched an investigation and determined that the images were sent from an IP address in use at Bebris’s residence in Neenah. On December 19, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Bebris’ residence, and an examination of Bebris’ computer revealed images of pornography involving children ranging in age from approximately one to fifteen years old.
Bebris spent his career in law enforcement, most recently as Public Safety Chief in Oakwood, Ohio. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully for the position of Outagamie County Sheriff.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Bebris will spend six years on supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.
This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s ICAC Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin W. Proctor and Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
414-297-1700
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Southern California Man Sentenced to Ten Years in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 9, 2020, Richard Garner (age: 56) of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was sentenced to a term of ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
According to court documents, on July 31, 2019, Garner had a suspected drug-laden package mailed from Redondo Beach, California, to a residence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the suspicious package, which was later confirmed to contain approximately a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of N-Phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide, commonly known as fentanyl. During the same timeframe, Garner was also responsible for sending and further distributing controlled substances in other locations within the continental United States, including Ohio and Louisiana. Garner committed this offense while on federal supervised release for prior convictions for Operating a Criminal Enterprise and Money Laundering.
In pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman noted the serious nature of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.
The case was investigated by the North Central HIDTA Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Brady, Jr.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Three Milwaukee Residents Sentenced for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
THREE MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS SENTENCED FOR ARMED CARJACKING
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 2, 2020, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper sentenced the last of three defendants for an Armed Carjacking that occurred in Milwaukee in August 2018. Paul E. Anderson (20) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 102 months in prison, after he pled guilty to one count of Motor Vehicle Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1), and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), which carries a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence.
One of Anderson’s co-defendants, O’Keefer Hooker (23) was sentenced to 72 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of Motor Vehicle Robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence. Anderson’s other co-defendant, Asia Rogers (21), pleaded guilty to one count of Motor Vehicle Robbery and was sentenced to a time served sentence of 13 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
The sentences stem from an armed carjacking that took place in August 2018 when Anderson pointed a loaded firearm at the victim’s head and demanded her car keys. Fearing for her life, the victim handed over her keys. Anderson and his co-defendants then stole the car, and evaded law enforcement detection for over an hour. Shortly after parking the stolen car, Anderson’s two co-defendants, Rogers and Hooker, were arrested. Anderson evaded law enforcement for several months, but he was identified and indicted in December 2018.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper noted that carjackings like this one are among the most serious federal crimes and that the defendants’ actions put the victim and the community at significant risk.
“Because Anderson and his co-defendants terrorized their victim and the surrounding neighborhoods, they now face time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “This is an excellent example of federal agents working side-by-side with local law enforcement to address violent crime in Milwaukee.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Hughes said: “Serious crime has serious consequences for the offenders. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to get violent criminals off the streets and keep our neighborhoods safe".
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Investigators. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Margaret B. Honrath.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Ten Years in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Ten Years in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 2, 2020, Maximino Vargas (age: 46) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a term of ten years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court documents, between March and June 2019, Vargas sold a DEA confidential source high-purity amounts of methamphetamine on four occasions. The methamphetamine quantities ranged between approximately 28 grams and 168 grams. Laboratory testing later confirmed the methamphetamine ranged between 99% and 100% pure. On two other occasions during the same period, Vargas sold the confidential source approximately two ounces of cocaine. Vargas conducted these drug transaction near his Milwaukee residence, which was located in close proximity to the Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School – a public elementary and middle school and designated drug-free zone. On June 17, 2019, law-enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Mr. Vargas’s Milwaukee residence.
The officers found several items consistent with drug-trafficking activity, including approximately 1.45 kilograms (3.2 pounds) of methamphetamine, 205 grams of cocaine, 43 grams of cocaine, a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Schryver model S-15 5.56 caliber rifle, a Glock 42 .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, digital scales, multiple cellular phones, and $21,186 in U.S. currency (a search of the same residence in January 2019 yielded controlled substances, firearms, and $48,000 in U.S. currency as well).
In pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman noted the serious nature of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.
The case was investigated by the North Central HIDTA Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Brady, Jr.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Menominee Woman Indicted for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 20, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against a woman who allegedly assaulted a man with intent to murder. The indictment named Michelle Pamonicutt (age: 35), of Keshena, which is on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The indictment charged Pamonicutt with Assault with Intent to Murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(1). The charge relates to an incident on October 27, 2019. If convicted, Pamonicutt faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
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Former Owner and Operator of Jannah Healthcare Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay $1.1M Restitution for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District, announced that United States District Judge Joseph P. Stadtmueller has sentenced Latoya N. Joseph, 42, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to eight months’ imprisonment and six months’ home confinement for the crime of tax evasion.
Ms. Joseph was the owner and operator of Jannah Home Health Care, LLC (“Jannah”), a home health business providing personal care services primarily to Medicaid recipients in the Milwaukee area. Last year, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ms. Joseph with three counts of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201.
According to the indictment, Ms. Joseph received more than $1.8M from Jannah in 2013, 2014, and 2015, but failed to file federal income tax returns for herself or the business for these years. The indictment alleged that Ms. Joseph willfully attempted to evade and defeat the proper assessment and payment of income taxes totaling approximately $640,000.
Ms. Joseph pleaded guilty to Count Two of the indictment, corresponding with tax year 2014. At sentencing, Judge Stadtmueller described the offense as a serious one and acknowledged the important role of criminal tax prosecutions in protecting the integrity of the voluntary tax compliance system in the United States. Ms. Joseph will be required, as part of her sentence, to serve a term of imprisonment of 8 months, to be followed by three years of supervised release. As part of that supervised release term, Ms. Joseph must serve six months of home confinement. Additionally, as she agreed to do in her plea agreement, she must pay restitution in the amount of $1,124,554.24, representing taxes she evaded for 2013, 2014, and 2015, along with substantial penalties.
“Honest taxpayers deserve to know that Ms. Joseph and others who shirk their tax obligations face time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Her failure to pay income taxes is especially offensive because her business depended on taxpayer-funded programs. I commend the multi-agency effort that brought Ms. Joseph to justice. “
“The sentencing of Latoya Joseph sends an important message today to the American taxpayers. Failing to file tax returns when you operate a business will result in prison time and a bill for taxes, interest, and penalties,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Todd Martin, Chicago Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Committing tax fraud deserves to be punished, especially when one is defrauding a government-funded program focused on helping Americans. The IRS and U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to investigate those who are failing to comply with their tax obligations.”
The criminal tax case against Joseph was investigated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan H. Koenig.
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Eau Claire Man Arrested by Operation Kick Boxer for Child Pornography Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 20, 2020, a federal grand jury handed down an indictment alleging that Evan C. Pasicznyk (age: 36) of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, distributed child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(2)(A).
Pasicznyk is charged with a single-count of distributing child pornography. The count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years of incarceration in federal prison upon conviction.
Pasicznyk’s indictment is a direct result of Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, https://go.usa.gov/x72WN
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee and Green Bay Offices, as well as the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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US Attorneys Announce over $6 Million in Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – United States Attorneys Matthew D. Krueger and Scott C. Blader announced awards of $6,472,018 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in Wisconsin. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“As a United States Attorney and former District Attorney, I know the devastation caused by opioids, methamphetamine, and other addictive drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Blader. “These grants will fund critical investigation, treatment and prevention resources throughout Wisconsin.”
“The threats posed by illicit drugs continue to evolve,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are mixed with other drugs to create lethal combinations, and methamphetamine use is on the rise. These grants underscore the Justice Department’s commitment to help state and local partners to meet this epidemic with prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts.”
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
Milwaukee County $1,200,000
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians $589,959
Rock County $500,000
Milwaukee County Combined Courts $500,000
Vernon County $318,354
Oneida Nation $203,166
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services $1,945,652
Wisconsin Department of Justice $514,887
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians $700,000
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
United States Attorneys Announce More Than $6 Million in Justice Department Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
United States Attorneys Matthew D. Krueger and Scott C. Blader announced awards of $6,472,018 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in Wisconsin. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
“As a United States Attorney and former District Attorney, I know the devastation caused by opioids, methamphetamine, and other addictive drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Blader. “These grants will fund critical investigation, treatment and prevention resources throughout Wisconsin.”
“The threats posed by illicit drugs continue to evolve,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are mixed with other drugs to create lethal combinations, and methamphetamine use is on the rise. These grants underscore the Justice Department’s commitment to help state and local partners to meet this epidemic with prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
Milwaukee County $1,200,000
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians $589,959
Rock County $500,000
Milwaukee County Combined Courts $500,000
Vernon County $318,354
Oneida Nation $203,166
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services $1,945,652
Wisconsin Department of Justice $514,887
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians $700,000
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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U.s. Attorney Krueger Announces New Initiatives in Southeast Wisconsin to Prevent Opioid Overdose DeathsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign to prevent opioid-related overdose deaths in Southeast Wisconsin. In addition, the Department of Justice awarded two grants totaling $1.7 million to address opioid and other substance misuse in Milwaukee County.
Southeast Wisconsin has continued to experience high rates of overdose deaths related to opioids. In Milwaukee County alone, through August 2020, 313 individuals have died of opioid-related overdoses, which represents a 42% increase from the same time in 2019. An increasing number of those overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids like fentanyl, with fentanyl being involved in over 70% of overdoses deaths in the first half of 2020.
To raise awareness of the dangers of opioid use—especially the prevalence of fentanyl—and to encourage individuals using opioids to seek treatment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has launched a public awareness campaign in partnership with the North Central High Intensity Drug Treatment Area (HIDTA) program. The campaign will include messages displayed on billboards and social media throughout Southeast Wisconsin. The campaign also encourages people to call or visit online 211 which can refer individuals to treatment resources.
“The widespread presence of fentanyl has made drug use more dangerous than ever,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “This campaign will warn people of the dangers of drug use and encourage individuals to seek treatment.”
As detailed in another press release issued today, the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) awarded more than $341 million to communities nationwide to address substance misuse and the opioid epidemic. Two of these grants will fund efforts to reduce overdose deaths in Milwaukee County.
First, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office (MCMEO) in partnership with Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Milwaukee Community Justice Council (CJC), has been awarded $1.2 million for a three-year grant to develop a Milwaukee Overdose Public Health and Safety Team (OD-PHAST). According to the grant recipients, the cross-sector OD-PHAST will utilize near real-time data and information from case reviews to develop and implement recommendations to help prevent future overdoses. The grant funds will also increase capacity to deliver toxicology findings to public health and safety partners and expand efforts to connect families, and in particular children, to services to mitigate the impact of the trauma experienced by overdose deaths in the community. The MCMEO and partners will plan to announce further details as the project planning develops.
Second, Milwaukee County Combined Courts was awarded a three year $500,000 Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant. According to the County, through this grant Milwaukee’s Adult Drug Treatment Court (DTC) and Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) programs will continue to serve high risk/high need individuals with a substance use disorder. Participants will have access to additional holistic services including sober living facilities to aid in their recovery. Transparent and consistent drug testing and peer mentoring will also be enhanced and aid in the recovery process.
Finally, the public is reminded that this Saturday, October 24, 2020, is DEA’s Drug Takeback Day. At numerous sites around the State, unused prescription drugs can be safely returned, which ensures that the prescription drugs will not be abused. To learn more or find a takeback site, visit www.DEAtakeback.com.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Five Charged in Connection with COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Five individuals were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Thomas Smith, 46, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stephen Smith, 42, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Samuel Davis Jr., 40, of Chicago, Illinois, Robert Hamilton, 59, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jonathan Henley, 52, of Chicago, Illinois were charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin with bank fraud and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted several fraudulent PPP loan applications to a federally insured financial institution and the SBA in the names of businesses with no actual operations or employees. In the applications, the defendants allegedly misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses. To support the fraudulent applications, the indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fake tax documents. The defendants are alleged to have fraudulently sought over $1.1 million in PPP loan funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the FBI, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Five Charged in Connection with COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, joins Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in announcing five individuals were charged in an indictment based upon their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Thomas Smith, Stephen Smith, and Robert Hamilton, all of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Samuel Davis, Jr., and Jonathan Henley, of Chicago, Illinois were charged in an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin with bank fraud and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted several fraudulent PPP loan applications to a federally insured financial institution and the SBA in the names of businesses with no actual operations or employees. In the applications, the defendants allegedly misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses. To support the fraudulent applications, the indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fake tax documents. The indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently sought over $1.1 million in PPP loan funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the FBI, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Laura Connelly and Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Ingraham of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper sentenced Christopher L. Childs (48), of Hartford, Wisconsin, to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking.
On October 3, 2019, Childs entered a guilty plea to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) & 1591(b)(1). According to court records and filings in the case, Childs: (1) operated as a trafficker in the Milwaukee area and elsewhere since approximately 1996; (2) recruited adult females and at least one minor female to work for him; (3) caused the females to perform prostitution dates using fraud, coercion, and, at times, force and threats of force; (4) required his victims to provide the proceeds of prostitution dates to him; and (5) transported victims to strip clubs and other locations inside and outside of Wisconsin, including clubs in Dodge County, Wisconsin, known as TNT and the Hardware Store.
Before imposing sentence, Chief Judge Pepper heard from six of the victims at the hearing or in written impact statements. In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Pepper noted that Childs destroyed and dehumanized others for a feeling of control and for his own financial gain. Chief Judge Pepper explained that this was one of the most serious offenses the court had seen, as Childs victimized “person after person” for an extended period. Chief Judge Pepper also expressed the need for the court’s sentence to deter other traffickers from similar conduct.
United States Attorney Krueger commented, “This 27-year sentence reflects that sex trafficking is a horrific, dehumanizing crime. The prosecution was only possible because some of Childs’s victims had the courage to bring the truth to light. This case also resulted from extraordinary cooperation among work of federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Racine Police Department, United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Hartford Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Deposition Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Milwaukee Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice –Division of Criminal Investigation.
The case has prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Richard G. Frohling.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Updates on Operation Legend in MemphisRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend, which was expanded to Memphis on Aug. 6, 2020.
Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, nearly 5,500 arrests – including approximately 276 for homicide, 66 of which occurred in Memphis – have been made; more than 2,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 28 kilos of heroin, nearly 16 kilos of fentanyl, more than 200 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 30 kilos of cocaine, and more than $7.3 million in drug proceeds have been seized.
Of the more than 5,500 individuals arrested, approximately 1,124 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 602 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 441 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.
The Attorney General launched the operation as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.
Breakdown of Operation Legend charges:
The initiative, which was first launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. The operation was subsequently expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district is below.
Milwaukee, WI.
57 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 25 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 27 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 5 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes.
Kansas City, MO.
174 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 67 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 94 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 13 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Chicago, Ill.
176 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 40 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 130 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, NM.
126 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 52 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 64 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 10 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, OH.
101 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 59 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 38 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, MI.
100 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below.
- 33 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 64 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, MO.
274 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.
- 125 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 125 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 24 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, Tenn.
51 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.
- 30 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 7 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
65 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 46 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 9 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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United States Attorneys Announce Election Day Program & District Election OfficersRead the Press Release
United States Attorneys Scott C. Blader and Matthew D. Krueger announced today the Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) who will lead the efforts of their Offices in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSAs Daniel Graber and Meredith Duchemin have been appointed as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Wisconsin, and AUSAs Christopher Ladwig and Philip Kovoor have been appointed as the DEOs for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In this capacity, they are responsible for overseeing their respective District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Krueger said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”
United States Attorney Blader said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.
For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorneys Blader and Krueger stated that AUSAs/DEOs Graber, Duchemin, Ladwig and Kovoor will be on duty in their Districts while the polls are open. AUSAs/DEOs Graber and Duchemin can be reached by the public at (608) 264-5158 and AUSAs/DEOs Ladwig and Kovoor can be reached by the public at (414) 297-4103
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The Milwaukee FBI field office can be reached by the public at (414) 276-4684.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., by phone at (800) 253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Operation Kick Boxer Results in Arrest of Sauk County Man Seeking to Have Sex with a 14-Year-OldRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Zachary C. Wood (age: 45) of Merrimac, Wisconsin, was charged via a criminal complaint following his October 12, 2020, arrest by local and federal authorities.
Wood was arrested pursuant to Operation Kick Boxer, a collaborative effort involving the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, https://go.usa.gov/x7qqY.
According to court filings, Wood began exchanging instant messages with an individual whom he believed to be the parent of a 14-year-old girl living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Wood expressed repeated interest in engaging in sexual activity with the 14-year-old and children as young as three years-old. Wood also sent pornographic images of children engaged in explicit sexual activity.
In actuality, Wood was communicating with a law enforcement agent working as a part of Operation Kick Boxer. Wood was arrested upon his arrival in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Wood faces charges of using a computer to attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted of those charges.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood, marshals, federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Operation Legend: Update on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.
Launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020.
Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 5,000 arrests – including approximately 247 for homicide – have been made; more than 2,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 22 kilos of heroin, more than 15 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than 7.5 million fatal doses), more than 130 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 28 kilos of cocaine, and more than $7.3 million seized in drug proceeds.
Of the more than 5,000 individuals arrested, approximately 1,057 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 568 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 411 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.
The Attorney General launched the operation as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.
Breakdown of Operation Legend charges:
Milwaukee, WI.
54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 25 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 25 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes
Kansas City, MO.
136 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 49 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 76 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Chicago, Ill.
176 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 40 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 130 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, NM.
113 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 47 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 56 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 10 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, OH.
94 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 54 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 36 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, MI.
96 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below.
- 31 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 62 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, MO.
274 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.
- 125 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 125 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 24 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, Tenn.
51 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.
- 30 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 7 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
63 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 44 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 9 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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DOJ Charges More Than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in Fy20Read the Press Release
Eastern District of Wisconsin Charged 115 Defendants
U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined the Department of Justice in announcing that it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Central to our strategy for reducing violent crime is prosecuting firearms offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “By working closely with ATF and our local law enforcement partners, we are sending a clear message that illegal firearm possession results in serious punishment.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
Of the more than 14,200 defendants charged, 115 defendants have been charged by the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced U.S. Attorney Krueger. This includes defendants who were prohibited from firearm possession because of prior felony convictions, domestic violence misdemeanor convictions, and unlawful controlled substances use. Prosecutions also included individuals who possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and violent crime.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase—or even to attempt to illegally purchase—firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Statement of United States Attorney KruegerRead the Press Release
This afternoon, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office announced that it will not pursue criminal charges related to the officer-involved shooting of Alvin Cole.
Federal law enforcement in Wisconsin is sworn to protect First Amendment rights, which include the rights to speak and assemble “peaceably.” In the past year, however, in addition to witnessing peaceful protests, some Wisconsin communities have suffered episodes of violent civil unrest.
Federal law enforcement is joined with state and local authorities to address any further violence. Federal law imposes serious penalties for arson, rioting, firearms offenses, and other violent crimes, which we will prosecute to the fullest extent possible. No one else in Wisconsin should become a victim of needless violence or face destruction of a business as a result of unrest.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Pain Management Companies Agree to Pay $1 Million to Resolve Allegations They Violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback StatuteRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Advanced Pain Management (“APM”) has agreed to pay $1 million to settle claims asserting violations of the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks and by performing medically unnecessary laboratory tests. APM is a collection of companies including Advanced Pain Management Holdings, Inc. (“APMH”), its wholly-owned subsidiaries APM Wisconsin MSO and Advanced Pain Management LLC, and Advanced Pain Management S.C. (“APM SC”).
The United States alleged that APMH improperly gifted shares of incentive stock to non-employee APM SC physicians who performed pain management procedures at APMH’s ambulatory surgical centers. The incentive stock was to be redeemed upon a sale of APMH and was dependent on the profitability of APMH, which was determined largely by referrals from the non-employee physicians. The incentive stock was allegedly given as a reward for past and anticipated referrals to APMH’s ambulatory service centers.
The United States further contended that APMH paid non-employee physicians to serve as medical directors in a manner that was tied to the volume of procedures at APMH’s ambulatory surgery centers. There were no written agreements documenting the services the medical directors were to provide, and the medical directors were not required to record or report any medical director functions.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by federally funded programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that a physician’s medical judgment is not compromised by improper financial incentives and is instead based on the best interests of the patient.
The United States also alleged that APM performed confirmatory urine drug tests that were medically unnecessary. For certain claims, providers allegedly failed to customize orders for confirmatory urine drug tests based on each patient’s individualized risk assessment and circumstances, resulting in a higher level of testing than supported by the medical record. APM disclosed these improper urine drug test claims to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Healthcare providers must make recommendations about their patients’ health without respect to their own financial interests,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ethan P. Davis for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will continue to do our part to protect federal health care program beneficiaries and the American taxpayers from the corrupting influence of kickbacks designed to undermine the impartiality and integrity of physician decisionmaking.”
“The financial arrangements pursued by APMH wrongly gave physicians an incentive to make medical decisions based on their own financial interests, rather than their patients’ interests,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Medicare and Medicaid only pay for procedures and tests that are medically necessary and untainted by kickbacks. This settlement reflects our office’s continuing efforts to combat violations of the False Claims Act and improper arrangements under the Anti-Kickback Statute.”
“It is imperative that the public has faith and trust that the decisions made by medical providers are based upon the best interests of their patients” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The specter of a payment of a kickback in any form or fashion diminishes that faith and trust and can lead to the improper payment and wasting of limited taxpayer dollars. The OIG will continue to work with our investigative partners to ensure the continued integrity of federally funded health care programs.”
The government’s lawsuit resulted from a whistleblower complaint filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Accordingly, the whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al. ex rel. Hedstrom v. Advanced Pain Mgmt., et al., Case No. 13-C-556, and is pending in the District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
APM’s settlement with the United States is based on ability to pay, and is part of a broader settlement that also resolves various state law claims.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yun represented the government in this matter, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. The settlement agreement states allegations only; APM does not admit liability for the allegations.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 14½ Years in Federal Prison for Arson and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 1, 2020, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Edward B. Burgess (28) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to 174 months in prison for Arson and Hobbs Act Armed Robbery. Burgess pled guilty to one count of Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), on August 28, 2019. Burgess pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), on October 18, 2019.
According to court records, on December 7, 2018, after a domestic violence incident, Burgess set fire to a rental unit he lived in with his girlfriend and the mother of his children. Luckily, nobody was home at the time of the fire, but the residence was completely destroyed. Four months later, in April 2019, Burgess brandished a firearm during a robbery of a Metro PCS store in the city of Milwaukee.
At sentencing, Judge Stadtmueller noted that the violence exhibited by Burgess was “unacceptable.” He stated that the crimes carried a significant risk of death and that they were among the “most serious” crimes that are brought before the Court. Judge Stadtmueller further noted that the extremely violent nature of Burgess’s crimes warranted a significant period of incarceration.
“Burgess’s violent disregard for others means he will spend over a decade in federal prison. This case underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to combat the extreme levels of violent crime that plague Milwaukee,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger.
“Arson is a violent and serious crime and we appreciate the investigative partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department in investigating this case as well as the United States Attorney’s office for their diligence in prosecuting this individual,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division.”
The arson case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The armed robbery case was investigated by the FBI's Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Investigators, and the Milwaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart, Farris Martini, and Benjamin Taibleson.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Milwaukee Corporation Established to Provide Jobs to Blind or Visually-Impaired Individuals Agrees to Pay $1.9 Million to Resolve Allegations It Violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback ActRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc., (IBI) has agreed to pay more than $1.9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Act in connection with certain federal contracts set aside to employ blind or visually-impaired workers.
IBI was established to increase employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or visually-impaired. Headquartered in West Allis, Wisconsin, IBI receives set-aside contracts from federal agencies under the federal government’s AbilityOne Program. In exchange, IBI agrees to give jobs to workers who are blind or visually-impaired and comply with other contractual requirements.
The settlement resolves allegations that, between 2009 and 2018, IBI misrepresented to the U.S. AbilityOne Commission when requesting set-aside contracts for furniture design and installation services that it would maintain a 3:1 blind-to-sighted ratio of employees, and that furniture designers and sales representatives working for IBI took impermissible payments and gifts from manufacturers on certain contracts. It also resolves claims that IBI improperly subcontracted a set-aside contract for screen-printed clothing to an entity that did not generally use blind labor.
“AbilityOne contractors have a duty to follow the law and meet their important commitments to employ workers who are blind or severely disabled,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates our continuing vigilance to ensure that those receiving set-aside contracts under the AbilityOne Program comply with the conditions of their awards.”
The AbilityOne Commission operates under the authority of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, which was passed in 1971 to increase employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or visually-impaired, or who have disabilities so severe that they are otherwise unable to work at competitive employment. More than 400 companies participate in the AbilityOne Program and receive set-aside federal contracts in exchange for employing approximately 45,000 people who are blind or have severe disabilities.
“By its conduct, IBI thwarted the AbilityOne Program’s goal of increasing employment and training opportunities for persons who are blind or visually-impaired,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This settlement reflects our office’s continuing efforts to combat violations of the False Claims Act and protect federal programs.”
“We are committed to preserving the integrity of the AbilityOne program. False claims on the program exclude blind and significantly disabled workers from opportunities and hinders law-abiding AbilityOne contractors,” said Thomas K. Lehrich, Inspector General of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. “Working with DOJ and our partners, the Office of Inspector General protects the confidence and public trust in the largest employment program in the nation of blind and significantly disabled workers.”
“The conduct at issue in this case undermined the core purpose of the AbilityOne program -- to provide jobs for the blind and disabled. The settlement reflects our commitment to protect the integrity of the program and hold companies accountable for attempts to subvert it,” said Carol F. Ochoa, Inspector General for the General Services Administration (GSA).
The settlement with IBI resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States. Accordingly, the whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Inzeo v. Industries for the Blind, Inc., 15-cv-996, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; IBI does not admit liability for the allegations.
The settlement also resolves conduct that IBI investigated and disclosed to the United States concerning the receipt of gifts and money by its furniture designers and sales representatives that was not alleged in the whistleblower complaint. It received credit in the settlement for its disclosure, cooperation, and remediation efforts in connection with this conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yun and Attorney Jennifer Chorpening of the Civil Frauds Section represented the government in this matter. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, with assistance from GSA’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the AbilityOne Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Appleton Man Indicted for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 15, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Casey Welk (age: 23) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
According to the indictment, in December of 2019, Welk knowingly distributed pornographic images of prepubescent children. Welk is charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A). Each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years of incarceration in federal prison. Welk was arraigned on September 24, 2020 before the federal district court in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Four Fond Du Lac Men Indicted for Firearm Straw Buying Conspiracy and Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 22, 2020, Jonathan Griffin (age: 28); Jason Spinks (age: 37); Shakie Davis (age: 25); and Treon Dennis (age: 36) of Fond du Lac, were indicted with conspiracy to make a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer and possession of firearms by felons, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 922(g)(1) & 924(a)(2).
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) identified that Fond du Lac area felons Griffin, Spinks, Davis, and Dennis sold heroin in the area and used their heroin distribution network to recruit one of their heroin customers to purchase eleven firearms for them over an eight-month period. Three of the eleven firearms were recovered at crime scenes in the Chicago area shortly after they were purchased.
If convicted of the conspiracy to make a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer and possession of firearms by felons, Griffin, Spinks, Davis and Dennis would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“As alleged in the indictment, these men engaged in dangerous activities connected to firearms and heroin,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the excellent work of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Justice Department is committed to working with state and local authorities to ensure public safety and violent crime reduction in all of our cities.”
“Working closely with our local and state law enforcement partners, we are able to use our resources effectively and collaboratively to investigate straw purchasing in communities such as Fond du Lac,” remarked ATF Special Agent in Charge Kristen deTineo of the Chicago Field Division. “Lying and buying is illegal, and we will follow each investigative lead to ensure firearms do not end up in the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them.”
Fond du Lac Police Chief William B. Lamb remarked, “Investigations into criminal conspiracy networks suspected to be involved in the illegal possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs and firearms have been amongst the greatest of priorities for the City of Fond du Lac Police Department. The gun violence that is associated with the drug trade is an epidemic that is ripping far too many cities in our nation apart and we are committed to preventing that type of criminal activity in our city. I commend the work done by the Officers and Investigators of the City of Fond du Lac Police Department as well as those involved members of the Lake Winnebago Area MEG – Drug Unit, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for their exceptional investigative efforts in this and other similar investigations.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Fond du Lac Police Department. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Ladwig.
A criminal indictment is merely a formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A criminal indictment is merely a formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Updates on Operation Legend at Press Conference in MilwaukeeRead the Press Release
Charges Announced Against Twenty-Six Defendants Alleged to Operate a
Violent Drug Trafficking Organization in MilwaukeeAt a press conference in Milwaukee today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend. He was joined by Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, who announced charges against 26 defendants who allegedly operated a violent drug trafficking organization in Milwaukee, with ties to the Northern and Central Districts of California.
Attorney General Barr explained that since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 3,500 arrests—including approximately 200 for homicide—have been made; more than 1000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 19 kilos of heroin, more than 11 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than five million fatal doses), more than 94 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly 14 kilos of cocaine, and more than $6.5 million in drug proceeds have been seized.
Of the more than 3,500 individuals arrested, approximately 815 have been charged with federal offenses. More than 440 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while more than 300 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.
In Milwaukee, 47 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as part of Operation Legend:
- 24 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 19 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
As part of Operation Legend, U.S. Attorney Krueger further announced that in a criminal complaint unsealed today, 26 defendants have been charged with offenses related to a violent drug-trafficking organization that obtained multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana from California for distribution in the Milwaukee area. As alleged, after distributing the drugs in the Milwaukee area, certain defendants shipped drug proceeds through the U.S. Postal Service to co-conspirators in California. Multiple defendants possessed and brandished firearms during the course of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Included among the defendants is Louis R. Perez III, also known as “Eight Ball,” who is alleged to be a Mexican Posse gang member and the current leader of the nationwide drug trafficking organization. Several other Mexican Posse gang members have also been charged and arrested, including Manuel Soto and Antonio Rodriguez, who both allegedly distributed controlled substances in the Milwaukee area. Two California-based defendants, Julian Sanchez and Miguel Sarabia, are alleged to have supplied the drugs for distribution from California.
On September 22, 2020, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers executed arrest and search warrants related to this operation. Twenty-one of the defendants are now in custody. Law enforcement officers also executed over two dozen search warrants in Wisconsin and California, resulting in the recovery of at least 33 firearms, including a stolen Milwaukee Police Department firearm and a firearm with an obliterated serial number. As part of the operation, law enforcement also recovered over 700 grams of heroin from one location, as well as additional heroin, cocaine, and marijuana from other locations. Law enforcement also recovered approximately $170,000 in U.S. currency.
The following defendants are charged in the complaint:
Name
Age
Residence
Louis Rey PEREZ III
23
Milwaukee, WI
Xina YANG
22
Milwaukee, WI
Julian SANCHEZ
24
Costa Mesa, CA
Miguel SARABIA
45
Norwalk, CA
Gabriel MATTESON
22
La Mirada, CA
Louis Rey PEREZ, JR.
46
Milwaukee, WI
Manuel SOTO
28
Milwaukee, WI
Hauseng YANG
18
Milwaukee, WI
Antonio RODRIGUEZ
21
Milwaukee, WI
Hector ARENAS
27
Milwaukee, WI
Luis F. GOMEZ, JR.
19
Milwaukee, WI
Ivan J. GALAN
27
Milwaukee, WI
Jose A. ALVARADO
23
Milwaukee, WI
Esteban REYES
46
Milwaukee, WI
Kevin TAYLOR
28
Milwaukee, WI
Ma YANG
32
Milwaukee, WI
Mary YANG
29
Milwaukee, WI
Jasmine L. PEREZ
28
Milwaukee, WI
Michael BUB
33
Milwaukee, WI
Chong YANG
28
Milwaukee, WI
Michele M. HART
55
Milwaukee, WI
Mercedes HERBERT GONZALEZ
29
Milwaukee, WI
Azia YANG
18
Milwaukee, WI
Carina RODRIGUEZ
20
Milwaukee, WI
Ger YANG
20
Milwaukee, WI
Shayla A. KNUEPPEL
24
Milwaukee, WI
“We know that drug trafficking fuels gun violence, as traffickers maintain arsenals to enlarge their territory, protect their inventory, and intimidate others,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “That is why the Operation Legend strategy for Milwaukee includes joining federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to target violent drug traffickers. I commend the excellent partnerships that led to today’s charges.”
“The DEA is committed working with its local, state and federal law enforcement partners to keep the citizens of Milwaukee safe from drug trafficking and the violence that is always associated with it. Today’s arrests show the resolve of law enforcement to work together in order to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals who profit from the national drug epidemic,” said DEA Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
All defendants are charged in a conspiracy to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine or 1000 kilograms of marijuana. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison. Certain defendants are also charged in a conspiracy to launder money. The penalties for that offense include up to 20 years in prison. Certain defendants are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted of those firearms charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to life in prison.
The defendants were charged based on a long-term investigation led by law enforcement agents and officers from the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Greenfield Police Department. Law enforcement resources allocated by Operation Legend contributed to the investigation and today’s enforcement operation. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Monfils and Assistant United States Attorney Gail Hoffman are prosecuting the case.
The public is cautioned that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700
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Two Individuals Sentenced to Twenty-Four Months in Prison for a $1.7 Million Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 8, 2020, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Alberto Fernandez Ramirez (51) and Ana Delia Dominguez (45), of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to 24 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.7 million in tax refund checks. Both Ramirez and Dominguez pled guilty to three counts of theft of government money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. Judge Adelman also ordered them to pay $1,733,677.22 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Ramirez and Dominguez, who are married, committed their theft by fraudulently obtaining Individual Tax Identification Numbers (“ITINs”) from the IRS. They did so by obtaining personal identifying documents of citizens in Mexico, and then used those documents to obtain ITINs in those individuals’ names. They then used the ITINs to file false tax returns that often fraudulently claimed the Additional Child Tax Credit. These false returns caused the IRS to send out United States Treasury tax refund checks. From approximately 2010 through 2017, Ramirez and Dominguez received over $1.7 million worth of refund checks due to their scheme. At sentencing, the government recommended that the Court impose a term of incarceration consistent with the advisory Guidelines range, which called for 46-57 months of incarceration.
“The defendants pursued an outrageous and brazen scheme to steal taxpayer dollars, by obtaining ITINs in the names of foreign nationals and then using those ITINs to file bogus tax refund claims,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the excellent investigative work by the IRS to build this case.”
“We want everyone who files a tax return to take advantage of the deductions and credits to which they are entitled by law; however, no one is allowed to defraud the government and take what is not theirs”, stated Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Enstrom of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “The IRS will continue to be relentless in our mission to stop these types of fraudulent tax refund schemes and will continue to bring criminals to justice.”
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. It is was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keith Alexander.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Former Wisconsin and New York City Schools Official Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 15, 2020, David A. Hay (age: 40) most recently of Brooklyn, New York, entered a guilty plea to a charge of receiving child pornography.
According to court filings, in May of 2010, while living and employed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David A. Hay exchanged emails with a 15-year-old child. During the course of these communications, the defendant received sexually explicit digital images and videos from the child. Hay also provided sexually explicit images of himself to the 15-year-old.
Hay was principal at Tomah High School 2011 through 2014. Prior to that, Hay was principal at Kettle Moraine High School from 2008 through 2011 before resigning following the school district’s discovery of irregularities with Hay’s licensing and the misuse of a district credit card. Most recently, Hay served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the New York City Chancellor of Schools.
Hay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years of incarceration in federal prison when he is sentenced in Green Bay’s Federal District Court on December 18, 2020.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the City of Neenah Police Department with the assistance of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Seven People in Charged in Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy in Sheboygan, WisconsinRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that seven defendants have been charged in federal court with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances in the Sheboygan area.
The defendants charged in this case reside in the following cities in Wisconsin:
Name
Residence
Irwin Sosa (25)
Sheboygan
Omar Sosa (23)
Sheboygan
Isaiah Beasley (24)
Sheboygan
Nicholaus Hoem (43)
Sheboygan
Ethan T. Massey (43)
Waupun
Nicholas R. McAtee (30)
Sheboygan
Michael D. Waite (46)
Appleton
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Irwin Sosa, Omar Sosa, Beasley, Hoem, Massey, McAtee, and Waite with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) (1), (b)(1)(A) and 846. If convicted of this charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum imprisonment of 10 years and up to life; $10,000,000 fine; minimum five years supervised release up to life; and a $100 special assessment.
The indictment alleges that between approximately June 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, the defendants conspired to distribute controlled substances. As alleged, the offense involved 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
Two of the co-conspirators, Omar Sosa and Beasley, were also charged with discharging a firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1)(A)(iii) & 2. If convicted of this charge, the defendants face ten years mandatory minimum sentence up to life imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a $100 mandatory special assessment, and five years supervised release.
One of the co-conspirators, McAtee, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) & 924(a)(2). If convicted of this charge the defendant faces ten years imprisonment; $250,000 fine; at least three years supervised release; $100 special assessment.
“The combination of drug trafficking and firearms is often lethal and altogether too common,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the outstanding collaboration between the local, state, and federal agencies that built this case.”
“The DEA recently expanded its operation to include the Sheboygan area. These indictments show how even newly formed law enforcement partnerships can quickly be effective in the fight against drug trafficking.” said DEA Milwaukee District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul E. Maxwell, Jr.
“Fighting the drug epidemic requires taking down large drug trafficking organizations that are supplying dangerous narcotics to members of our communities who are battling substance-use disorder. The coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement led to the federal charges that are being announced today,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul.
The defendants were charged based on joint investigation by law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Sheboygan County Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Group (MEG Unit), the Milwaukee Police Department, the Sheboygan Police Department; and the Sheboygan County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit, the Manitowoc Sheriff’s Department, and the Grand Chute Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mario F. Gonzales.
The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Child Related Sex CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 9, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Neil A. Frank (age: 35) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Frank faces charges alleging he used a computer to attempt to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b) and that he attempted to transfer obscene material to a minor in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1470. He is further charged with two counts of committing a felony sex offense as an individual required to register as a sexual offender in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A.
In 2012, Frank was convicted of attempted possession of child pornography in Outagamie County Circuit Court. He is required to register as a sexual offender under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Based on his prior record, Frank faces a mandatory 20 years’ imprisonment and up to life sentence if convicted of the charges.
This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Prison Sentence for Neopit Man Convicted of Separate Sexual Assaults of a Child and Adult Woman on Menominee Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that an individual received consecutive sentences totaling 180 months following convictions in separate cases for child sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The man, Peter Awonohopay (age: 37), formerly lived in Neopit, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
The sentences, imposed on September 8, 2020, by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, were the result of guilty pleas entered by the defendant on February 12, 2020. Judge Griesbach sentenced the defendant as follows:
CHARGE
STATUTE
PRISON LENGTH
Abusive Sexual Contact
(Case No. 19-CR-208)
18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 1153(a), 2247(a), and 2260A
24 months
Sexual Abuse of a Child
(Case No. 19-CR-220)
18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(b), 1153(a), and 2247(a)
156 months
Following the prison sentences, the defendant will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.
According to court documents, on June 17, 2019, the defendant had nonconsensual sexual contact with an adult female at her residence in Keshena. The defendant admitted to investigators he entered the woman’s house without her knowledge and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her while she slept.
In the second case, discovered after the June 2019 incident, the defendant engaged in a sex act with a girl who was between 12 and 16 years of age. This abuse occurred in 2018 at the defendant’s residence in Neopit. The defendant admitted engaging in sex acts with the child in June 2018.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the crimes the defendant committed were “disgusting” and “horrendous.” Judge Griesbach recognized the courage of the victims for coming forward and reporting the crimes against them, which enabled the government to bring charges, and the court to impose a sentence designed to protect other children from the defendant. Judge Griesbach observed a strong need to protect the public from the defendant, who in 2006 received a 41-month sentence for sex offenses against a minor. Judge Griesbach also remarked upon the need to deter those would might consider similar actions.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Updates on Operation Legend at Press Conference in ChicagoRead the Press Release
At a press conference in Chicago today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend.
Since the operation’s launch, there have been more than 2,000 arrests, including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts. Of those arrests, approximately 588 defendants have been charged with federal crimes. In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has seized 587 firearms, more than 1.2 kilos of heroin, and more than five kilos of methamphetamine; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized almost 70 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 16 kilos of heroin, more than 7 kilos of fentanyl, more than 12 kilos of cocaine, 268 firearms, and approximately $5.19 million in drug proceeds; the FBI has recovered 241 weapons; and the United States Marshals Service have recovered 169 firearms and made 1810 arrests, including 163 for homicide and 120 for sexual assault.
In Chicago, there has been a 49% decrease in homicides in the first four weeks of the operation, when compared to the four weeks prior to the operation’s launch. In fact, between April 2020 and the end of July 2020, Chicago was experiencing a steady and distressing increase in fatal shootings, which precipitously declined in August.
The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.
Launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district is below.
Milwaukee, WI.
16 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 2 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 2 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes.
Kansas City, MO.
113 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 34 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 68 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Chicago, Ill.
120 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 31 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 85 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, NM.
45 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 17 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 22 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, OH.
66 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 41 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 22 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, MI.
58 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below.
- 29 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 26 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, MO.
123 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.
- 54 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 53 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 16 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, Tenn.
16 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.
- 4 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 9 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
31 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 17 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Operation Legend: Update on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
On July 8, 2020, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.
Launched first in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020.
Since the operation’s launch through Monday, August 31, 2020, more than 2000 arrests – included 147 for homicide – have been made; more than 544 firearms have been seized; and more than seven kilograms of fentanyl, 14 kilograms of heroin, 12 kilograms of cocaine, and 50 kilograms of methamphetamine have been seized.
“Through Operation Legend, federal resources are joined with state and local resources to reduce violent crime in Milwaukee and other cities,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Operation Legend is already making a difference, leading to the apprehension of violent fugitives and the prosecution of crimes involving firearms, drug trafficking, and gangs.”
Of those individuals arrested, 476 have been charged with federal offenses. Two hundred and forty-nine (249) of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while 185 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses. The breakdown of federal charges is below.
Milwaukee, WI
15 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 2 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 1 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes.
Kansas City, MO
99 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 28 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 60 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Chicago, IL
103 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 27 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 72 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, NM
35 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 15 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, OH
54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 39 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 13 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 2 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, MI
41 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below.
- 17 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 21 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, MO
89 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.
- 44 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 37 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 8 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, TN
14 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.
- 3 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 8 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, IN
26 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
- 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
- 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
- 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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Milwaukee Man Sentenced to Ten Years’ Imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 4, 2020, Khamphanh Phakousonh (age: 46) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a term of ten years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
According to court documents, on February 22, 2019, Phakousonh sold a DEA confidential source approximately 2 ounces (59.75 grams) of methamphetamine. Laboratory testing later confirmed the methamphetamine was 100% pure. On February 25, 2019, law-enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Phakousonh’s Milwaukee residence. The officers found several items consistent with drug-trafficking activity, including over 6 kilograms (over 13 pounds) of marijuana, $25,700 in U.S. currency, and a loaded Ruger LCP, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Law-enforcement authorities subsequently determined that Phakousonh had obtained the firearm from an individual in satisfaction of a drug debt.
In pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman noted the serious nature of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.
The case was investigated by the North Central HIDTA Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Brady, Jr.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
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Two Missouri Men Charged with Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Michael M. Karmo (40) and Cody E. Smith (33) of Missouri have been charged by criminal complaint with illegal possession of firearms after being arrested on September 1, 2020, at a hotel in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
As alleged in the criminal complaint, on September 1, 2020, the Kenosha Police Department advised FBI that a law enforcement agency in Iowa had received a tip that Karmo and an unidentified male were in possession of firearms and traveling from Missouri to Kenosha, Wisconsin. FBI agents subsequently located and detained Karmo and Smith at a hotel in Pleasant Prairie, which is located near Kenosha. After receiving consent to search Karmo and Smith’s vehicle and hotel room, FBI agents recovered an Armory AR-15 assault rifle, a Mossberg 500 AB 12-Gauge shotgun, two handguns, a silencer, ammunition, body armor, a drone, and other materials. Karmo has prior felony convictions. Smith has a prior misdemeanor domestic battery conviction and acknowledged regular drug use. Consequently, both Karmo and Smith were prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition on September 1, 2020.
The criminal complaint charges Karmo with violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Felon in Possession of a Firearm). The criminal complaint charges Smith with violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 2 (Aiding and Abetting a Felon’s Possession of Firearms); 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) (Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person – Misdemeanor Domestic Violence); and 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) (Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person – Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance). Each of these offenses carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervision after release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Kenosha Police Department, the Village of Pleasant Prairie Police Department, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, and local law enforcement in the state of Iowa. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard G. Frohling and Margaret B. Honrath.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Operation Legend Results in Drug and Gun Charges Against Milwaukee ManRead the Press Release
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 25, 2020, a federal grand jury indictment was issued against Jeffrey R. Jones (age: 35) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Jones distributed heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and that he possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of these charges, Jones faces a mandatory ten years of imprisonment and up to a lifetime of imprisonment. He is additionally charged with being a felon in possession of eight firearms and possessing fivefirearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(c)(1)(A). He faces up to ten years of imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon, and a mandatory five years of imprisonment up to a lifetime of imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution.
The case was brought under Operation Legend, a Department of Justice initiative to fight violent crime in Milwaukee and other cities that have experienced an increase in crime rates. Operation Legend has directed significant additional federal funding and agents from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service to the Milwaukee area to work with state and local officers to combat violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth M. Monfils.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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