Feds Indicted 27 Suspects And Shutdown Milwaukee Family Drug Trafficking Enterprise

Kevin R. Arms

Multi-million drug smuggling operation involved family members and friends.

By H. Nelson Goodson

April 16, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that 27 suspects were indicted in a poly-drug conspiracy case, which included homicide, money laundering, and firearms offenses. They were identified as Kevin R. Arms, 40, John Bailey, 37, Trevan Brown, 29, Cecil Arms, 70, Timothy Cunningham, 44, Maurice Handy, 42, Roosevelt Lee, 40, Phillip Moffett, 32, Brandon Owens, 30, Joe Parker, 73, Sam Spears, 37, Roger Walker, 33, and Carl Wilson, 41,  who were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and five kilograms or more of cocaine. They allegedly smuggled, trafficked and distributed about 660 pounds of cocaine in the City of Milwaukee, the indictment states.

In addition, John Cleveland, 38, Demerius Sholar, 28, Ronnie Reid, 45, Kyle Carrington, 22, and Brandon Trotter, 27, are charged with possession with intent to distribute or distribution of controlled substances.

Kevin R. Arms, Bailey, and Moffett are charged with causing death by discharge of a firearm. Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kevin and two of the suspects in connection with the November 18, 2008 murder of Paula P. Jackson, 40.

Cleveland, Lee, Owens, Walker, Wilson, Carrington and Trotter are charged with possession of firearms to commit and engage in drug-trafficking offenses.

Kevin R. Arms, Cecil Arms, Kevin C. Arms, 21, Shenese Arms, 33, Shenita Arms-Nicholas, 33, and Tremell Nicholas, 34, are charged with money laundering offenses.

Malik Danun, 28, is charged with obstruction of justice. Ricky Shaw, 38, and Patricia Arms, 65, are both charged with misprision of a felony. Katilia Jackson, 26, and Brenda Arms, 55, are both charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises. All of the suspects currently reside in Milwaukee, except for Kevin R. Arms (Pewaukee), Ricky Shaw (Atlanta, GA) and Malik Danun (Atlanta, GA).
On Wednesday,  law enforcement officers arrested 18 of the suspects. Three of the suspects were already in custody. Six remained at large, including: Trevan Brown, John Cleveland, Ronnie Reid, Demerius Scholar, Sam Spears, and Roger Walker. In addition, law enforcement executed eight search warrants and recovered 31 firearms and approximately $143,000 in cash. They also seized 11 homes, several vehicles, a 2008 and 2014 Cadillac Escalades and jewelry,  including a money judgement for $3 million.

The feds confiscated two businesses, True Boss Entertainment and Arms company, including its money assets.

The drug conspiracy and firearms offenses are all punishable by up to life in prison. The other offenses have lower maximum penalties, including: money laundering (20 years); maintaining a drug involved premises (20 years); possession with intent to distribute or distribution of controlled substances (20 years); obstruction of justice (20 years); and misprision of a felony (3 years), according to the federal indictment.

The defendants were charged based on a multi-year investigation by law enforcement officers from the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, assisted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice- Division of Criminal Investigations, and the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Heroin Task Force.

Law enforcement agencies assisting on Wednesday's arrests include the U.S. Marshals Service, Waukesha Metro Drug Unit, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department.