14 Defendants Charged with Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Related Crimes in Racine, Wisconsin, and Elsewhere | USAO-EDWI

By Lynn Sommers On Oct 21, 2021

Richard G. Frohling, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 20, 2021, a federal indictment was unsealed accusing thirteen people from the Racine area of conspiracy to possess them with intent to weigh five kilograms or more cocaine and 500 grams or more of cocaine base in the form of “crack” cocaine.

In the indictment, the following people are charged:

Surname	Residents
GERARDO LARA, alias “MIGO”, alias “DINEROO”, (27 years)	Franksville, Wisconsin
SARAH A. BECKIUS	Kenosha, WI
PLAZE E. ANDERSON (23 Years)	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
JASMIN J. GONZALES (age 40)	Racine, WI
DEBRA J. URNESS (Age 42)	Racine, WI
MARQUAN L. WASHINGTON, also known as “MUNCH” (age 30)	Racine, WI
MARIO M. JOHNSON, alias “RO”, alias “ROEGOTTI” (33 years)	Racine, WI
ASHLEY M. WESTMORELAND (28 years)	Racine, WI
MICHAEL D. HARDIN, also known as “MOJO” (33 years)	Racine, WI
TERRY BRUMBY, JR., Aka “T-NICE”, (Age 32)	Racine, WI
CARL GRAYSON alias “POPS” (64 years)	Racine, WI
BRIAN L. PHILLIPS, alias “B”, alias “BRITTLE” (33 years)	Racine, Wisconsin
MICHAEL A. WRIGHT, JR. (Age 31)	Racine, WI
JERI L. BALDERAS (31 years)	Racine, WI

On the morning of October 20, 2021 FBI officers, Racine Police Department, Racine County Sheriff’s Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Sturtevant Police Department, Caledonia Police Department, New Berlin Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, North Central HIDTA, Kenosha Police Department, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, simultaneously arrested 12 defendants in the greater Racine and Kenosha areas and the state of Tennessee and conducted 18 guaranteed federal searches.

The search warrants resulted in the discovery of several firearms and controlled substances. Two defendants were already in custody. According to court records, the majority of those arrested in the operation are believed to be members of the Vice Lord and Gangster Disciple street gangs who worked together to advance their drug trafficking organization.

“The indictment on this case and today’s arrests demonstrate the joint commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to fight gang and violent drug trafficking and improve the quality of life for residents across the county,” said Acting US attorney Spring.

“We will continue to work together with all of our partners in the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force (MASSTF),” said Special Agent Robert Hughes in charge. “The use of shared resources has the greatest effect in removing violent gangs, weapons and drugs from our communities.”

“This morning’s operation was the culmination of nearly 12 months of investigative work between local, state and federal law enforcement officers to hold members of these two violent organizations accountable. The execution of warrants and search warrants has been as flawless as anyone else in my 19-year career, “said Racine Police Chief Maurice A. Robinson. “It is important that the persons named in the arrest warrants were taken into custody without the use of force. I am very grateful to all the officers involved who made this operation so successful. “

The investigation into this case was conducted by MASSTF, comprised of staff from the FBI, the Racine Police Department, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Pleasant Police Department and the Sturtevant Police Department.

If convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy, each defendant faces a minimum of ten years’ imprisonment, a maximum of life, a fine of US $ 10,000,000 and, if released, between five years and life imprisonment. In addition, Balderas has been entrusted with structuring a financial transaction in order to avoid the obligation to report and, if convicted, faces a prison sentence of a maximum of five years. This case is being prosecuted by US Assistant Attorneys Katie Halopka-Ivery and Bridget J. Schoenborn.

An indictment is just an indictment and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which the government must prove their guilt beyond any doubt.

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