Home Milwaukee Press Releases 2009 Grand Jury Returns Additional Indictments for Drug Trafficking on St. Croix Tribal Lands
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Grand Jury Returns Additional Indictments for Drug Trafficking on St. Croix Tribal Lands
Five Individuals Arrested

U.S. Attorney’s Office December 07, 2009
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin (414) 297-1700

MADISON, WI—Stephen P. Sinnott, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Madison returned three indictments on December 2, 2009, charging six individuals with drug trafficking on St. Croix Tribal Lands in northwestern Wisconsin. The indictments were unsealed late Friday, December 4, 2009, following the arrest of five individuals named in the indictments.

The first indictment charges John Carr, 28, Derrick Rapley, 31, and Broderick Swain, 33, all originally from Detroit, Michigan, with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, three counts of using a place on the St. Croix Reservation to distribute crack cocaine, three counts of distributing crack cocaine, one count of distributing cocaine, and one count of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute crack cocaine from April 2006 to June 2008 and further alleges that during this time period they used two residences in Webster, Wis., and a residence in Hertel, Wis., to distribute crack cocaine.

If convicted, Carr, Rapley, and Swain face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

The second indictment charges Louis Belisle, 26, Webster, Wis., with four counts of distributing crack cocaine and one count of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. The indictment also charges his brother Brandon Belisle, 29, also of Webster, Wis., with distributing crack cocaine.

If convicted, Louis Belisle and Brandon Belisle face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

The third indictment charges Frankie Bildeau, 24, Webster, Wis., with three counts of distributing crack cocaine. If convicted, Bildeau faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

All of the defendants, with the exception of John Carr, were arrested by law enforcement officers on Friday, December 4, 2009. They each have made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker in Madison and all were detained pending trial. Law enforcement officers are continuing their efforts to arrest John Carr.

Acting United States Attorney Sinnott stated that these arrests are the result of a long-term investigation being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; St. Croix Tribal Police Department; Burnett County Sheriff's Department; Sawyer County Sheriff's Department; and Wisconsin State Patrol.

To date, 11 defendants have been convicted of federal drug offenses as a result of this investigation. Eight additional defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil is handling the prosecution of these cases.

You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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