Eighteen Defendants Charged in Trey 8 Mob Street Gang
Drug Conspiracy Case in Milwaukee

United States Attorney Steven M. Biskupic announced that today, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned an indictment charging eighteen defendants in a drug conspiracy case. The defendants, many of whom are alleged to be members of or associated with the Trey 8 Mob street gang, are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841 (a) (1) and 841(b)(1)(A).

The defendants were identified as Mario Rangel of Milwaukee (age: 46), Stephan Cannaday of Kenosha (age: 47), Shawn Terry of Milwaukee (age: 34), Willie Lewis of Milwaukee (age: 31), Sidney Terry of Milwaukee (age: 40), John Mayes of Milwaukee (age: 33), Romell Quin of Milwaukee (age: 31), Jerrod Horton of Milwaukee (age: 35), Kenshond Love of Milwaukee (age: 33), Terrell Bell of Milwaukee (age: 31), Philander Barfield of Milwaukee (age: 35), Sylvia Gates of Milwaukee (age: 26), Lamont Kyles of Milwaukee (age: 34), Marquis Marks of Milwaukee (age: 27), Paul McEwen of Milwaukee (age: 41 ), Nicholas Freemanof Milwaukee (age: 52 ), and Lance Barlow of Horican, Wisconsin (age: 37). The last defendant is not being named because his age can’t be confirmed at the time of this announcement.

The indictment alleges the primary purpose of the conspiracy was to accumulate money, wealth, and other assets through the transportation, distribution, and sale of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Certain conspirators provide large amounts of money to obtain large quantities of cocaine and marijuana from other conspirators inside and outside of the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Once the drugs were obtained they were distributed among members of the conspiracy for wholesale and retail distribution. The conspiracy used various residences to store package and prepare the drugs for distribution. Some members of the conspiracy used acts of violence and threats to advance the criminal enterprise and in some cases inflicted serious bodily injuries upon their victims. According to information released in court the drugs were primarily distributed in the neighborhoods surrounding N. 31st and Lisbon Ave and N. 38th and Center Street. The defendants sold drugs in houses throughout the area, and several defendants conspired to sell drugs using cellular telephones. The defendants allegedly bought and sold the drugs in various quantities.

The defendants were charged based on a nine-month investigation. Local, state, and federal investigators assigned to the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) participated in this lengthy investigation. Today law enforcement personnel assigned to the HIDTA Drug Gang Task Force, Milwaukee Police officers assigned to the Anti-Gang Units in Police Districts 4 and 7, federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and agents from the U.S. Marshals Service arrested five individuals. Several of the defendants were already in custody. Through the course of this investigation the Drug Gang Task Force also executed search warrants at various locations in Milwaukee and Kenosha seizing over $325,000 in cash and illegal drugs.

According to United States Attorney Steven M. Biskupic, gang-related violence and drug trafficking will not be tolerated. “In April, we announced that since the beginning of the year over 100 gang members or drug dealers who had been terrorizing the community have been arrested and charged in Federal Court. These additional arrests demonstrate our commitment to working with the Mayor’s office and Milwaukee Police Department as part of the Milwaukee Safe Streets Initiative to root out gang activity and help improve the quality of life throughout the city”. He also commended the actions of all law enforcement agencies that were involved in this lengthy investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Sanders and Brian Resler. The majority of the defendants, if convicted, face between 10 years and life imprisonment, a fine of up to $4,000,000, and five years to life on supervised release.

It should also be noted that as part of this investigation Keith Cannaday of Milwaukee (age: 45) was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted he faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years to life on supervised release.

An indictment is merely the formal method of charging an individual and does not constitute inference of his or her guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, that the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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