Twenty-Five Defendants Charged in Vliet Street Gang Drug Conspiracy Case in Milwaukee

Acting United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs announced that on Tuesday, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned an indictment charging 25 defendants in a drug conspiracy case. The defendants, many of whom are alleged to be members of or associated with the Vliet Street Gangster Disciples street gang, are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841 (a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A).

The defendants are identified as Antonio Williams of Milwaukee (age: 26), Lavall Lee of Milwaukee (age: 27), Tajuan Green of Milwaukee (age: 31), Edwin Dejesus of Milwaukee (age: 41), Michael Krause of Milwaukee (age: 32), Dajuan Green of Milwaukee (age:31), Marvin Robinson of West Allis (age: 37), Wendell Watson of Milwaukee (age: 27), Terrence Barney of Milwaukee (age: 32), Tracy Young of Milwaukee (age: 34), Wilfredo Montejo of Milwaukee (age: 55), Ramon Ramirez of Milwaukee (age: 50), Gwendolyn Hodges of Milwaukee (age: 27), Starr Richardson of Olympia Fields, Illinois (age: 28), Trevon Garner of Milwaukee (age: 30), Anthony Bounds of Milwaukee (age: 34), Duwone Ellis of Milwaukee (age: 31) Quentin Tucker of Milwaukee (age: 26), Demetris Simmons of Milwaukee (age: 31), Terrecho Shurn of Milwaukee (age: 31), Reginald Young of Milwaukee (age: 50), Darnell Bailey of Milwaukee (age: 34), Anthony Stewart of Milwaukee (age: 32) William Baker of Milwaukee (age: 28) and Shevonne Love of Milwaukee (age:38).

Yesterday, law enforcement arrested 18 of the individuals. Four others were already in jail, including ANTONIO WILLIAMS, aka Cheem, 26, of Milwaukee. WILLIAMS is in jail awaiting trial in connection with last year’s “July 4 th massacre,” a street shooting that resulted in the deaths of four people, and the injury of two others. Still at large are ANTHONY STEWART, aka Ant Banks, DUWONE ELLIS, aka Linky, and WILLIAM BAKER, aka Will, aka Skeet.

The defendants were charged based on a nine month joint investigation by the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Gang Task Force this includes officers from Milwaukee Police Department and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to Acting United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs, gang-related violence and drug trafficking will not be tolerated. “Since the beginning of last year, over 200 gang members or drug dealers who had been terrorizing the community have been arrested and charged in federal court. These additional arrests demonstrate our commitment to working with the Mayor’s office and Milwaukee Police Department as part of the Milwaukee Safe Streets Initiative to root out gang activity and help improve the quality of life throughout the city. Gang members need to know that when they engage in acts of violence, they will attract the attention of law enforcement, and will go to the top of law enforcement’s list of priorities. ” She also commended the actions of all the participating agencies, and in particular, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Milwaukee Police Department, working together through the HIDTA, that were involved in this lengthy investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Blackwood and Erica O’Neil. Many of the defendants, if convicted, face between 10 years and life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000 and 5 years to life on supervised release.

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.