United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that the following twenty-three (23) defendants have been charged in a criminal complaint with drug trafficking offenses related to the distribution of heroin:
Rayford WILLIAMS, age 43
David WILLIAMS, age 45
Mark HAYNIE, age 42
William PHILLIPS, age 51
Margaree CAMPBELL, age 59
George SEALS, age 50
Kendall MCCLURE, age 45
Michael SMITH, age 47
Larry HINES, age 66
Jahir MURPHY, age 26
Brenda NORTH, age 38
Darnell WALKER, age 43
Lionel WATKINS, age 50
Sharon YOUNG, age 50
Yolanda PARKER, age 38
Rashid TALIB, age 51
Antwon CONEY, age 33
Walton WILLIAMS, age 52
Tom HORTON, age 54
Melvin YOUNG, age 53
Alvera GADDIS, age 43
Freddie L. FOSTER, age 42
Pakeeta SKEETS, age 47.
All of the defendants except Haynie, Phillips, and Campbell reside in the greater Milwaukee area. Haynie, Phillips and Campbell all reside in Chicago, Illinois.
The defendants are charged with drug offenses including: distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy. If proven that the offenses involved more than a kilogram of heroin, each defendant will face up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. A number of the defendants charged are believed to be members of the Four Corner Hustlers Street Gang, and all of them operated in either Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Chicago, Illinois.
Today, law enforcement officers arrested twenty-one of these defendants. Two are still at large, including: Jahir Murphy and Freddie Foster. In addition, law enforcement located and arrested a fugitive in an unrelated case.
In addition to today’s arrests, law enforcement officers executed 10 federal search warrants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one in Chicago, Illinois, targeting members of this organization. Approximately 200 federal and state officers participated in these arrests and searches. Law enforcement recovered approximately ½ ounce of heroin, one pound of marijuana, nine firearms, $2300, two vehicles, and drug paraphernalia.
In making today’s announcement about the federal charges, searches, and defendant arrests, United States Attorney Santelle stated: “These charges are the result of an aggressive, multi-state, coordinated approach to eradicate heroin trafficking organizations from the streets of Milwaukee and across state lines. Anyone who assists these organizations, whether through providing, selling or transporting heroin will be held accountable. Make no mistake, with our partners in law enforcement, my office will use all lawful tools to stem the onslaught of heroin distribution in the Eastern District of Wisconsin." United States Attorney Santelle specifically commended all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and units involved in the investigation for their hard work and inter-agency cooperation.
The investigating agencies included the U.S. Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), West Allis Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, South Milwaukee Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Wisconsin HIDTA, and Chicago HIDTA. The United States Marshals Service, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Creek Police Department, Racine Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections also assisted with the arrests and search warrants.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gail J. Hoffman and Benjamin W. Proctor.
An indictment is merely the 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. # #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
