Twenty-Seven Defendants Federally Indicted in
Milwaukee and Chicago Area Drug Conspiracy Case
United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs announced today the unsealing of an indictment
in federal court charging 27 defendants with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in
violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846. The leaders of the conspiracy are alleged
to be members of the Chicago-based Four Corner Hustlers street gang.
The defendants are identified as Nita Ashford, 45; Latwan McCray, 18; Tharthur Johnson,
41; Michael Flanders, 38; Joy Ashford, 25; Antwan Small; 32, Regale Morgan, 27; Nicholas
Montgomery, 47; Fadis Christopher Montgomery, 44; Rita Beasley, 47; Larue Herbert, 24; Larelle
Herbert, 22; Candice Townsend, 23; Jolanta Terry, 27; Felicia McCoats-Smith, 38; Ebony Taylor;
25, Tamelia Johnson, 21; Clayc Starkes, 24; Joshua Gilbert, 22; Aneisha Morrow, 22; and Tracy
Hinton, 23, all of Milwaukee. Also charged are Andreaus McCoats, 22, of West Allis; Larvizo
Johnson, 21, of Sheboygan Falls; Earnest Ashford, 27, of Maywood, Illinois; Earnest Lee, 27, of
Bellwood, Illinois; and Jovan Williams, 28, and Christopher Chaffee, 27, both of Chicago, Illinois.
Today, law enforcement officers arrested 21 of these individuals. Three others, Earnest
Ashford, 27, of Maywood, Illinois, Earnest Lee, 27, of Bellwood, Illinois, and Tracy Hinton, 23,
of Milwaukee were already in custody. Still at large are Felicia McCoats, Michael Flanders and
Christopher Chafee. Agents and officers also executed 12 federal search warrants (including one in
Hilldale, Illinois), all without incident. The following items were seized: 15 guns, $13,000 in cash,
three cars and eight pounds of marijuana.
The defendants were charged based on a sixteen-month joint investigation by the Milwaukee
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents
and officers from the Milwaukee Police Department, FBI, Wisconsin Division of Criminal
Investigation, DEA, ATF, US Marshal Service, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, West Allis
Police Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections, and South
Milwaukee Police Department.
According to United States Attorney Michelle L. Jacobs, gang-related violence and drug
trafficking will not be tolerated. “Since the beginning of last year, over 250 gang members and/or
drug dealers have been arrested and charged in federal court. Today’s additional arrests demonstrate
our commitment to root out gang and drug trafficking activity and help improve the quality of life
throughout the district. Gang members and drug dealers must know they are the focus of law
enforcement, and are at the top of our priorities.” She commended the actions of all the agencies
working together through the HIDTA, that were involved in this lengthy investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget J. Domaszek, Daniel H.
Sanders and John J. Manning. Many 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.
The public is reminded that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A
defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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