Heroin dealer found guilty

A Milwaukee man who belonged to an innovative heroin-dealing gang in Milwaukee was found guilty Wednesday of racketeering, drug dealing and using stolen cars to commit crimes.

But the jury also deadlocked on six of the 12 counts against David Harris, including the most serious felony he faced — possession of more than 50 grams of heroin with intent to deliver, which carries up to 40 years in prison.

The 23-year-old Milwaukee man still faces about two decades behind bars when he is sentenced March 8 by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz.

The jury of eight women and four men returned the verdict after 15 hours of deliberation.

From the jury’s notes to the judge, 11 favored guilty verdicts on all counts while one juror dissented. One note said the juror did not want to convict Harris on three or more counts “for fear of racketeering.”

Assistant District Attorney Laura Crivello said she was in favor of letting the jury continue as they had made progress during the day Wednesday.

Defense attorney Fred Klimetz said it appeared that the jury was deadlocked and was opposed to letting them continue.

Protasiewicz said she concluded the jury had been deliberating long enough. She received the verdict on the six counts and declared a mistrial on the remaining counts.

Harris will be retried on the six counts on the which the jury deadlocked, Crivello said.

There were roughly 50 witnesses called in the unusually complex twoweek trial.

John Diedrich is an investigative reporter and assistant editor covering criminal justice and federal issues. He can be reached at (414) 224-2408 and jdiedrich@jrn.com.