Racine Area Defendants Arrested on Federal Indictments

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that indictments issued in December 2010 and January 2011 have been unsealed charging 10 individuals with various drug-trafficking and firearms offenses. The defendants, many of whom are alleged to be members of the Gangster Disciples street gang in Racine, are charged with, among other things, distribution of controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), or firearms offenses.

The defendants are identified as: Juwan Matthews (Age: 26), Adrian Higgenbottom (Age: 20), Fairleigh Jones (Age: 33), Alandus Grandberry (Age: 28), Billy Billups (Age: 31), Edward Thompson (Age: 31), Deauntee McKay (Age: 31), Deangelo Herron (Age; 26), Arthur Woodson (Age: 39), and Ike Lyons (Age: 32).

As of today, all 10 individuals have been arrested or are in custody. In addition, eight other individuals were arrested on similar state charges and will be prosecuted through the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.

The defendants were charged after lengthy investigations by the FBI Greater Racine Gang Task Force, acting in concert with the DEA, ATF, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Racine, Kenosha, Mt. Pleasant, Sturtevant, and Caledonia Police Departments, Wisconsin Probation and Parole, Racine County Sheriff’s Department, and the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation is part of an ongoing, long-term effort by law enforcement to eradicate the sale of crack cocaine and other controlled substances by violent gang members in Racine. The first phase concluded in June 2008 with the federal indictment of sixteen Midtown

12th Street

Gangster Disciple gang members on drug conspiracy charges. The second phase of the operation concluded in February 2009 with the federal indictment of fourteen Racine-based, large-scale drug suppliers. The third phase occurred in October 2009 and resulted in the indictment of forty-one Vice Lord and North Side Gangster Disciple gang members on drug conspiracy charges. Finally, in October 2010, approximately twelve more Racine area gang members were arrested. Consequently, over 90 Racine area gang members have been federally indicted in connection with these investigations, and well over 100 have been prosecuted by the state and federal governments combined.

The charges announced today are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs. Most 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.

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.