Busted: 23 charged in heroin ring in Milwaukee, Chicago; many part of "Four Corner Hustlers" street gang

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- United States Attorney James Santelle on Tuesday, May 12th announced the following 23 defendants have been charged in a criminal complaint with drug trafficking offenses related to the distribution of heroin in Milwaukee and Chicago.

The following individuals have been charged:

All of the defendants except Haynie, Phillips, and Campbell reside in the greater Milwaukee area.

Haynie, Phillips and Campbell all reside in Chicago, Illinois.

The defendants are charged with drug offenses including: distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy. If proven that the offenses involved more than a kilogram of heroin, each defendant will face up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. A number of the defendants charged are believed to be members of the Four Corner Hustlers Street Gang, and all of them operated in either Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Chicago, Illinois.

21 of these defendants were arrested Tuesday. Two are still at large: Jahir Murphy and Freddie Foster.

In addition, law enforcement located and arrested a fugitive in an unrelated case.

In addition to Tuesday’s arrests, law enforcement officers executed 10 federal search warrants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one in Chicago, Illinois, targeting members of this organization. Approximately 200 federal and state officers participated in these arrests and searches. Law enforcement recovered approximately one-half ounce of heroin, one pound of marijuana, nine firearms, $2,300, two vehicles and drug paraphernalia.

“These charges are the result of an aggressive, multi-state, coordinated approach to eradicate heroin trafficking organizations from the streets of Milwaukee and across state lines. Anyone who assists these organizations, whether through providing, selling or transporting heroin will be held accountable. Make no mistake, with our partners in law enforcement, my office will use all lawful tools to stem the onslaught of heroin distribution in the Eastern District of Wisconsin," Santelle said.

The investigating agencies included the U.S. Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), West Allis Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, South Milwaukee Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Wisconsin HIDTA, and Chicago HIDTA. The United States Marshals Service, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Creek Police Department, Racine Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections also assisted with the arrests and search warrants.