Tri-state Federal Operation Busted 19 Suspects For Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin Including Money Laundering

The suspects were busted in a tri-state operation after a four year federal investigation that resulted in charges for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 6, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, United States Attorney Gregory Haanstad announced in a press release that the following nineteen (19) defendants have been charged in federal court with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as money laundering and bankruptcy fraud:

• Clifton Morrison, age 51

• Jose Rodriguez, age 67

• Miguel Rodriguez, age 68

• Samuel Flores-Morales, age 39

• Luis Nevarez, age 27  

• Brenda Y. Valverde, age 29

• Ronnie McFadden, age 47

• Dewayne Alexander, Sr., age 48

• Frederick R. Perry, age 56

• David Wilder III, age 50

• Tommie Stevens, age 41

• Germaine D. Johnson, age 35

• Daniel S. Carter, age 43

• Don D. Walker-Cruse, age 41

• Ricky Christopher, age 49

• David D. Coleman, age 39

• Kellin R.L. Morrison, age 33

• Janine R. Hegwood, age 51

• Dewayne Alexander, Jr., age 24

The defendants currently reside in the greater Milwaukee area, Chicago, Illinois, and Burlington, Iowa. This case is a part of a long-term federal drug and money laundering investigation based out of Milwaukee. 

The defendants are charged with various drug, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud offenses, including: distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy. If proven that the offenses involved either more than one kilogram of heroin or five kilograms of cocaine, defendants charged with drug offenses will face up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison.  
Law enforcement officers arrested all of the above defendants on Wednesday. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officers executed 17 federal search warrants in Wisconsin and Illinois and one state warrant in Iowa targeting members of this organization. Law enforcement recovered approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and a half kilogram of heroin. Law enforcement also seized 21 guns (including 3 rifles), 8 vehicles and an undetermined amount of cash.  Over 250 federal, state, and local officers participated in these arrests and search warrants.

The defendants were charged after a lengthy investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, Wauwatosa Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, Waukesha County Sheriff's Department and Metro Drug Unit, Milwaukee Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, South East Iowa Drug Task Force and the Iowa State Patrol. In addition to the above law enforcement agencies the following agencies participated in today's arrests and search warrants: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, Oak Creek Police Department, Kenosha County Drug Unit, Racine County Drug Unit, West Allis Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Lake County Illinois Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, United States Marshals Service,  Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigation / Enforcement Removal Operations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Monfils and Gail J. Hoffman.