Racine Residents Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Distribution Offenses

Racine Residents Charged With Drug Conspiracy and Distribution Offenses James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that eighteen individuals were indicted in federal court in an 18-count indictment charging conspiracies to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana; individual acts of drug distribution, and maintaining a drug-involved premises, between 2008 until June, 2011.

The following individuals are charged in the indictment:

Name,  Age and Residency,  Count(s)

Charles A. Berry 24, Racine 1, 9

Timothy Burgess 26, Racine 1, 2, 4

Orrin T. Graham 31, Racine 1, 2, 7

Rodney M. Hogan 41, Racine 1, 8, 11

Tavares M. Roberts 33, Racine 1, 3, 8, 12

Eric D. Wilkes 22, Racine 1, 13

Christopher A. Cosey 32, Racine 2, 15

Andre L. Epps 42, Racine 2, 9

Jessie J. Epps 38, Racine 2, 16

Steve H. Ivory 39, Racine 2, 5

Willie Overstreet, Jr. 44, Racine 2, 6

Ralph D. Swift 47, Racine 2, 10

Allen B. Wainwright 50, Racine 2, 4, 6, 7, 10

Zena S. Gardner 22, Racine 11

Byron E. Page 46, Racine 22

Sheila Adams 42, Racine 14

Natasha Page 25, Racine 17

Ruth Healy 76, Racine 18

If convicted of count one, the defendants face a minimum of ten years’ imprisonment with a maximum of life, a $10,000,000 fine, and between five years and life on supervised release. The penalties for a conviction under count two are a minimum of five years’ imprisonment with a forty year maximum, a $5,000,000 fine, and between four years and life on supervised release. Defendants charged in counts three through fifteen face a maximum of twenty years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and between three years and life supervised release. The penalties for a conviction under count eleven are a maximum of one year imprisonment, $1,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. The penalties for convictions under counts seventeen and eighteen are a maximum of twenty years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The indictment also includes the forfeiture of the defendants' properties used to commit the offenses and proceeds of the crime.

The investigation is part of an ongoing, long-term effort by law enforcement to eradicate the sale of crack cocaine, heroin, and other controlled substances by violent gang members in Racine. Since the first takedown in June 2008, 115 violent gang members and drug dealers from the Racine area have been charged in federal court.

This latest investigation began by focusing on the drug-dealing occurring at Ruth’s Beauty Salon, 1200 South Memorial Drive, Racine, Wisconsin. The investigation initially focused on a barber at the salon who was believed to be assisting in the sale of heroin and crack cocaine at the Salon to support his own addiction. The investigation then progressed to those individuals who were believed to be sources of supply for heroin and crack, including those individuals charged in Count One of the Indictment.

The lengthy investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Greater Racine Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of personnel from the FBI, Racine Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigations.

On June 23, 2011, law enforcement personnel from the Task Force, the Racine Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service simultaneously arrested nine defendants and executed nine federal search warrants. Five defendants were already in custody. The following defendants are still at large: Rodney M. Hogan, Tavares M. Roberts, Zena S. Gardner, and Willie Overstreet, Jr.

In announcing these indictments, United States Attorney Santelle commented: “Our focused and highly effective work in identifying and apprehending those people who engage in illegal drug-trafficking of all types continues throughout the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The message to our community–and especially to those who may still be dealing in these highly destructive substances–is clear and unmistakable: You will be held fully accountable for your violence, your trafficking, and all of your other criminal behaviors related to that. As this latest, highly successful investigative operation shows, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers will not stop until this illegal conduct stops; we will persist in our prosecutions until that time when all of the people of Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and every other city, town, and village in this district enjoy peace in their neighborhoods–safe and secure from criminal conduct.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erica O'Neil of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, United States Department of Justice.

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 time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

For additional information contact:

Assistant United States Attorney Erica O'Neil

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig

(414) 297-1700

Racine and Kenosha Area Residents Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Firearm Offenses

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that indictments issued in May 2011 have been unsealed charging 17 individuals with various drug-trafficking and firearms offenses. The defendants, several of whom are alleged to be members of the Gangster Disciples street gang in Racine, are charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

The following individuals are charged in the indictment:

Name, Age, Residency

Patricia L. Badger 52, Burlington

Elvin L. Brewer 33, Racine

Daniel J. Cisler 41, Racine

Bryant J. Jones 35, Waukegan, IL

Jeremy G. Lopez 29, Racine

Joseph G. Montemurro 26, Kenosha

Dora F. Montoya 54, Atascosa, TX

Carlos Roberto Montoya 38, San Antonio, TX

Hiram Rosado 37, Kenosha

Jose J. Rosado "Choch" 38, Kenosha

Miguel E. Rosales 35, Racine

Gustavo H. Salas 32, Kenosha

Niccole M. Simmons 35, Racine

Kenneth Tracy 43, Kenosha

Lenin A. Urrego 25, Kenosha

Ricardo G. Vasquez 38, Kenosha

Additionally, on June 27, 2011, a criminal complaint was returned against Carlos Montoya, Sr., of San Antonio, Texas. Montoya was charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).

The defendants, if convicted, face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to forty years in prison; a fine of up to $5,000,000; and between four years and life on supervised release. It should be noted the indictment also charges Miguel E. Rosales with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). If convicted of this offense he faces up to 10 years' imprisonment, up to three years on supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The defendants were charged after lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Wisconsin Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Kenosha Drug Operations Group (KDOG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Greater Racine Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of personnel from the FBI, Racine Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and DCI.

Today 18 state and federal search warrants were executed in Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, agents seized 18 pistols and one shotgun; approximately $45,000 in cash; several ounces of cocaine; small amounts of crack cocaine and methamphetamine; and two pounds of marijuana. In Texas, agents seized two pistols, an AR-15 assault rifle, and a short barreled shot gun as well as a ½ ounce of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Fifteen of the defendants were arrested today. The remaining defendant has agreed to turn himself in today.

The following agencies participated in today’s takedown: DEA, DCI, KDOG, ATF, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Racine Police Department, Kenosha Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Office, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, West Allis Police Department, the Milwaukee Metro Drug Enforcement Group, and the Illinois State Patrol.

Carlos Montoya, Sr., and Dora Montoya were arrested by the Illinois State Patrol, Will County Sheriff’s Department, and Will County Cooperative Police Assistance Team on June 24, 2011. Police seized a kilogram of cocaine from their car.

The investigation is part of an ongoing, long-term effort by law enforcement to target large scale cocaine traffickers. This investigation was initiated earlier this year based on information obtained through confidential sources concerning a large scale cocaine distribution organization in the Racine and Milwaukee area that was supplying the Gangster Disciple street gang. The organization was led by Miguel E. Rosales of Racine and involved out of state sources of cocaine and marijuana from Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas. Multiple kilograms of cocaine were distributed on a monthly basis. The organization utilized multiple street level dealers in the Racine, Kenosha, and Green Bay areas.

In announcing the charges in this indictment, United States Attorney Santelle commented: “The criminal conduct of the 17 people charged by the grand jury has now come to an end–and the neighborhoods that have been victimized by their nefarious trafficking in illegal drugs and their use of firearms are now working toward a restoration of the safety and security that all communities district-wide both want and deserve. Like many other recent, successful law enforcement.