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Press Release

Eight People in Kenosha and Chicago Charged with Heroin Trafficking Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today federal charges against eight defendants associated with a drug trafficking organization operating in Southeastern Wisconsin and Chicago.  The co-conspirators are members and associates of the Black Disciples Street Gang. 

The defendants are: James Allen, a.k.a. “Jimmy,” (52), Eric Bradley, a.k.a. “Too Too,” (52), Joanna Johnson, (25), James Smith, (36) John Gaston, a.k.a. “Ike,” (50), Richard Wadlington (69), Latonya Webster, (20), and Lance Woodward, (41).

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging six of the defendants with conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin.  If convicted of this conspiracy charge, those six defendants face a mandatory minimum term of ten years in prison.  Two other defendants were charged with distribution of heroin.           

On July 28 and 29, 2020, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested four defendants in a coordinated enforcement operation.  Throughout the course of the investigation, officers recovered approximately one kilogram of heroin and a firearm.

“The Justice Department is committed to confronting violent drug trafficking organizations that possess firearms and pedal deadly opioids,” said United States Attorney Krueger.  “Kudos to the excellent cooperation among the law enforcement agents and officers from multiple agencies, led by the FBI, to build this case.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Hughes stated, “I commend the work of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Gang Task Force.  Successful collaborative law enforcement partnerships from Racine to Chicago brought this violent drug trafficking operation to an end.  The FBI has a long reach across states to bring violent offenders to justice, as demonstrated in this successful investigation by the FBI Milwaukee and Chicago Divisions.”

The defendants were charged based on joint investigation by law enforcement officers from the FBI’s Southeastern Wisconsin Gang Task Force, Kenosha Drug Operations Group, Racine County Metro Drug Unit, City of Racine Police Department Drug Unit, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bridget J. Schoenborn.

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests yesterday, including the FBI’s Southeastern Wisconsin Gang Task Force, FBI Chicago, Chicago Police Department, Kenosha Drug Operations Group, Racine County Metro Drug Unit, City of Racine Police Department Drug Unit, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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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Updated July 29, 2020