Twenty-Seven Defendants Federally Indicted in Milwaukee and Chicago Area Drug Conspiracy Case

United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs announced today the unsealing of an indictment in federal court charging 27 defendants with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846. The leaders of the conspiracy are alleged to be members of the Chicago-based Four Corner Hustlers street gang.

The defendants are identified as Nita Ashford, 45; Latwan McCray, 18; Tharthur Johnson, 41; Michael Flanders, 38; Joy Ashford, 25; Antwan Small; 32, Regale Morgan, 27; Nicholas Montgomery, 47; Fadis Christopher Montgomery, 44; Rita Beasley, 47; Larue Herbert, 24; Larelle Herbert, 22; Candice Townsend, 23; Jolanta Terry, 27; Felicia McCoats-Smith, 38; Ebony Taylor; 25, Tamelia Johnson, 21; Clayc Starkes, 24; Joshua Gilbert, 22; Aneisha Morrow, 22; and Tracy Hinton, 23, all of Milwaukee. Also charged are Andreaus McCoats, 22, of West Allis; Larvizo Johnson, 21, of Sheboygan Falls; Earnest Ashford, 27, of Maywood, Illinois; Earnest Lee, 27, of Bellwood, Illinois; and Jovan Williams, 28, and Christopher Chaffee, 27, both of Chicago, Illinois.

Today, law enforcement officers arrested 21 of these individuals. Three others, Earnest Ashford, 27, of Maywood, Illinois, Earnest Lee, 27, of Bellwood, Illinois, and Tracy Hinton, 23, of Milwaukee were already in custody. Still at large are Felicia McCoats, Michael Flanders and Christopher Chafee. Agents and officers also executed 12 federal search warrants (including one in Hilldale, Illinois), all without incident. The following items were seized: 15 guns, $13,000 in cash, three cars and eight pounds of marijuana.

The defendants were charged based on a sixteen-month joint investigation by the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers from the Milwaukee Police Department, FBI, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, DEA, ATF, US Marshal Service, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, West Allis Police Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections, and South Milwaukee Police Department.

According to United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs, gang-related violence and drug trafficking will not be tolerated. “Since the beginning of last year, over 250 gang members and/or drug dealers have been arrested and charged in federal court. Today’s additional arrests demonstrate our commitment to root out gang and drug trafficking activity and help improve the quality of life throughout the district. Gang members and drug dealers must know they are the focus of law enforcement, and are at the top of our priorities.” She commended the actions of all the agencies working together through the HIDTA, that were involved in this lengthy investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget J. Domaszek, Daniel H. Sanders and John J. Manning. Many of the defendants, if convicted, face between 10 years and life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and five years to life on supervised release.

The public is reminded that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.