24 accused of violent gang membership
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee announced Wednesday that charges have been filed against 24 alleged members of a violent drug trafficking gang that operated out of the city’s Harambee neighborhood.
Officers with local law enforcement and the FBI executed search warrants throughout the city Tuesday, arresting 17 of the 24 charged individuals accused of associating with the Buffum Meinecke Boys.
U.S. Attorney Matt Krueger said at a news conference that law enforcement seized nearly $300,000 in cash and 53 firearms, including “military, assaultstyle weapons” with extended magazines and scopes.
He said 15 of the suspects have been charged with conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of narcotics — at least 1 kilogram or more of heroin, at least 5 kilograms of powder cocaine, at least 280 grams of crack cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of marijuana.
Nine others have been charged with distribution of heroin or cocaine or illegally possessing firearms, Krueger said.
One suspect, Victor Gonzalez, 34, of Milwaukee is also charged with unlawful possession of 37 guns.
“Every Milwaukee resident deserves to live in a secure neighborhood, free from groups who wield guns and pedal dangerous drugs,” Krueger said.
Krueger emphasized multiple times the violent nature of the organization but declined to provide specifics, saying law enforcement was not yet prepared to discuss them publicly. His office did not announce any violent
criminal charges against the two dozen suspects Wednesday.
It is unclear how long the Buffum Meinecke Boys have operated in Harambee.
FBI Special Agent Robert Hughes said, however, that the Buffum Meinecke Boys had a “unique profile,” in that it established alliances with other violent gangs — even those once considered rivals — in order to enhance the profits of their drug distribution.
“Through our investigation, there’s clear evidence of a growing partnership of historically rival gangs working together in order to form alliances to distribute drugs and commit violence,” Hughes said.
About 25 law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests and search warrant executions on Tuesday, during which no officers were injured, Krueger said. The case is being prosecuted as part of a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration called Project Safe Neighborhoods to control violent crime in Milwaukee.
The two dozen charged individuals are all residents of Milwaukee, ranging in age from 18 to 38.
Those still at large are: Michael Smith, 37; Michael Wilson, 34; Coury Agee, 33; Tyrone Bryant, 28; Luis Lorenzo, 34; Maureno Briggs, 29; and Jasmaine Linton, 38.
Those arrested are: Ramone Locke, 33; Jesus Puentes, 33; Garrell Hughes, 33; Lamar Johnson, 32; Rico Smith, 29; Amir Locke, 34; Joey Vazquez, 34; Louis Bates, 31; Dennis King, 35; Derrell Taylor, 31; Nicholas Weldon, 29; Deon Butts, 38; Dawan Turner, 18; Alfonso Greer, 20; Juiquin Pinkard, 35; Charles McCollum, 32; and Gonzalez.