19 charged in federal drug and fraud investigation

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Nineteen people are now facing federal charges after a drug ring spanning three states including Wisconsin was busted.

The Attorney General made the announcement Wednesday at the Federal Court House.

Some of the 19 people are now facing life in prison. They’re charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as money laundering and bankruptcy fraud.

Schimel said these are not your typical standing-on-the-street-corner drug dealers. The group is linked to multiple drug overdose deaths in the Milwaukee area. Authorities say the operation was based in Illinois and spanned across southeastern Wisconsin and part of Iowa.

Law enforcement seized 21 guns during the approximately two-year-long investigation, many of them military style weapons. Investigators say they also confiscated a little more than three pounds of cocaine, more than a pound of heroin, eight cars, and cash.

“When we talk about law enforcement put their lives on the one, when they went in to execute these warrants and arrest these people, they knew they were going to face these guns and they went in and took care of it, it’s dangerous work for them,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel – Wisconsin.

More than 250 federal, state, and local officers helped to make the arrests.