MILWAUKEE — Thirty individuals associated with a Milwaukee street gang were charged with federal offenses ranging from fraud to murder for hire, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday evening.
Several of the defendants were arrested earlier Wednesday as a result of law enforcement operations in Milwaukee, Houston, and elsewhere. Police were spotted at various locations across the City of Milwaukee, some wearing tactical gear.
The FBI confirmed earlier in the day that the Safe Streets Task Force, a multi-agency group made up of local and federal resources, was executing search warrants. TMJ4 News spotted law enforcement near 16th and Capitol, as well as 35th and Capitol.
According to the DOJ, all the individuals are allegedly members and affiliates of a Milwaukee street gang known as the "Wild 100s," the "Shark Gang," or "SNG." On Wednesday, the 30 individuals had been charged in a 43-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury.
The charges include the following:
- Mail fraud conspiracy (count 1)
- Mail fraud (counts 2 through 26)
- Murder for hire (count 27)
- Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence (count 28)
- Conspiracy to commit offenses related to the possession and sale of firearms (count 29)
- Unlawful possession of firearms by felons (counts 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 39, 42 and 43)
- Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (counts 33 and 40)
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 34 and 41)
- Possession of a machinegun (count 37)
- Possession of a firearm by a fugitive from justice (count 38)
According to the DOJ, the mail fraud conspiracy stems from defendants allegedly conspiring to defraud the Department of Labor through fraudulent applications for benefits. They allegedly wrongfully obtained millions of federal dollars and used the money to purchase firearms, controlled substances, jewelry, vacations, and to solicit murder for hire.
The murder for hire charge alleges two men used "facilities in interstate commerce to arrange" a murder in exchange for money. The two defendants allegedly carried out the murder around April 5, 2021, the DOJ says.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
FBI, MPD arrest several suspects while executing search warrants across Milwaukee
Julia Marshall | May 10, 2023 12:28 p.m.
Police were spotted at various locations across the city Wednesday morning, some wearing tactical gear.
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed the Safe Streets Task Force, a multi-agency group made up of local and federal resources, was executing search warrants.
A spokesperson confirmed multiple people were arrested at several locations, and the operation is still ongoing.
The search warrants being executed are sealed, so an FBI spokesperson could not say what law enforcement is looking for or why the suspects have been arrested.
TMJ4 News spotted law enforcement near 16th and Capitol, as well as 35th and Capitol.
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