A source tipped off the drug task force that Liebergen was bringing drugs into Northeast Wisconsin and selling them out of hotel rooms. Home / Legal News / Overdose investigation leads to large drug bust in Wisconsin Overdose investigation leads to large drug bust in Wisconsin KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value up to $6 million. The Wausau-area arrests were not connected to another major bust in northeastern Wisconsin involving nearly 60 pounds of meth found in suitcases at a hotel, according to Brown County authorities involved in that case. It's fortunate, police say, that someone made that telephone call. Sheriff Ron Cramer says this will go down as one of the largest seizures for cocaine in the area, This is the single largest seizure for us, actually, he explained. On Sept. 9, the Brown County Drug Task Force arrested defendant Malachi Root in Green Bay. The Wood County Sheriff's. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. Drug traffickers with ties to Mexican cartels are setting up. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. aiding and abetting to sell more than a hundred grams of a controlled substance. Deputies administered narcan to the involved subject, saving that person's life. DULUTH, Minn. The Duluth Police Department and a string of other law enforcement agencies including the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce have shut down a significant drug trafficking ring that extended throughout Greater Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The next morning, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office announced the 34 arrests and the seizure of 3,164 pounds of methamphetamine the biggest drug bust in the county's history, and one of the largest ever in the nation. Duluth police say this is the largest drug bust in history for the region. A pound can fetch up to $7,000. The Missouri connection? That's what drug task force officers say they found while investigating a major drug operation in Northeast Wisconsin. The source told officers that Liebergen was going to be in the area on Sept. 11 with a large amount of meth. As a result of that investigation, a federal grand jury has returned an six-count indictment charging nine defendants with conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. Ya Yang, 31, Wausau:conspiring to distribute meth. It is making sure we are stopping the flow of whats coming in and trying to decrease the access people have to these chemicals that can alter their lives and the lives of the people in their families, said Larson. John Gates, 49, Hewitt:conspiring to distribute meth, two counts of attempting to possess the drug with intent to distribute. Additionally, about $50,000 U.S . The Grand Chute arrest was part of an investigation that included local police from departments in Outagamie, Brown and Winnebago counties, as well as the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Derek A. Liebergen, 26 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Malachai J. Root, 29 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Wayne L. Stilen, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime, Sally A. Miller, 35 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jeremy M. Ludwig, 32 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Kayla R. Kennedy, 39 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Jasmine L. Gillette, 24 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Christopher S. Ullmer, 22 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Peter F. Thao, 23 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances. One of the biggest drug busts Florida has ever seen was straight out of a movie. The complaint states the source had made multiple purchases from Liebergen in the past. Kai Chang, 28,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Authorities allege that the meth was to be sold to pay a drug debt. Sheriff: Area meth bust could be largest in state history, 911 call turns fire drill at Xavier High School into shelter-in-place order, Milwaukee murder suspect captured after chase in Winnebago County, Prosecution moves to ban Grant Fuhrmans mother from the courtroom, Aaron Rodgers hopes to have decision sooner rather than later, Brown County Showcase of Homes starts spring tour, Public File Assistance Contact - (920) 432-3331. A further search of the vehicle turned up the following: --13.9 grams of marijuana (found in safe). The case is being prosecuted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. All of the following items were seized: Methamphetamine Cocaine Fentanyl LSD Marijuana. A conviction on the trafficking charge could lead to a sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. WAUSAU- A Wausau-area methamphetamine distributionring was responsible for bringing "pounds" of the drug into central Wisconsin before authorities busted 16 people who were involved, U.S. Attorney Scott Blader said. Liebergen had a handgun in the waistband of his pants when he was arrested. A search warrant was executed at Ullmer's home in Oconto Falls. At least one personis in jail in connection with the case, which began with the arrest March 29 of a man who nodded off in the driver's seat of an SUV parked at a gas pump island at the Kwik Trip on Freedom Road, just west of Interstate 41. A law enforcement source said "roughly two rolling suitcases full" of methamphetamine transported from Missouri were seized from a guest's room at the Wingate by Wyndham on North Federated Drive in Grand Chute. "This quantity was directed all over Northeast Wisconsin," says Sheriff Delain. PHOENIX Arizona authorities targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel have seized narcotics they estimate are worth more than $13 million, including more than 4 . Nearly 50 people are now being charged after a year-long investigation focused in Duluth, Rochester, and on the Iron Range brought down this drug operation. The name of the suspect is reportedly being withheld, as it is an active investigation. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. "It's not about drugs. Sheriff Ron Cramer says this will go down as one of the largest seizures for. Someone would book the room for Liebergen so there was no trace back to him. A 20-year-old woman was arrested in that incident, sheriff's officials said. All rights reserved. Sheriff Becker adds that Wood County has seen 12 overdose deaths this year, and with the number of drugs taken off the street as a result of the raid it is likely that many lives were saved from an overdose. Suitcases full of drugs. Officers "had to wake the guy up," Hobart-Lawrence Police Chief Randy Bani said. This big drug bust is similar to the others because it's linked to -- you guessed it -- cocaine. That turned up the following: --Alprazolam pills (panic/anxiety medication), --Drug ledgers with names, dollar amounts and dates. Pounds of meth found in a hotel room. Mesa Police Department had its biggest drug bust ever when they found over 700,000 fentanyl pills and 15 pounds of hard drugs at an apartment. Can I legally marry my cousin in Wisconsin? Federal investigators believe the 58 pounds of meth seized from Liebergen's hotel room is worth $500,000 - $750,000 on the street. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. The office states in December of 2021, KDOG led a large-scale operation in cooperation with the DEA and FBI, which spanned through several states and jurisdictions. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. And then he made a connection there to a cartel source, direct back into Mexico," says Kinnard. and last updated 4:15 PM, Jan 21, 2022 KENOSHA, Wis. A Kenosha County overdose investigation uncovered nearly $4 million worth of narcotics from a drug trafficking organization. After examining the bags police found 68-pounds of cocaine totaling an estimated $3 million in street value. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. The department had seized 4.76 pounds in all of 2016. Something that we've never seen up here in this type of quantity," says Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain. of cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl (estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $4,000,000 $6,000,000). And I believe this could be one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine in the state of Wisconsin history. Officers were able to wake the driver up, and as the driver removed his hands from his pockets, drug paraphernalia was seen. It's like a plot straight out of the Netflix crime drama "Ozark." One pound of meth sells on the street for up to $40,000, after it is divided into grams, the sheriffsaid. The identities of the subjects are not being released yet. The seizure by the Brown County Sheriffs Office of10.68 pounds of methamphetamine in 2017 after afive-month investigation. On March 29, authorities say they were called to a gas station on Freedom Road (Highway S) in Lawrence. Investigators found a large number of drugs including over 310 mg of cocaine and over 300 Ecstasy pills. Liebergen used to live there. The investigation was conducted by theCentral Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Inaddition to the illegal drugs, police seized what they called "alarge amount" of prescription medications and designer pills. Police also seized about a kilogram 2.2 poundsof heroin or fentanyl, and a Ruger handgun. He admitted to traveling from Missouri to Wisconsin with meth. TORONTO -. ve. The investigation continues as authorities are still searching for about ten other individuals with active warrants for their arrests related to this drug trafficking ring. Tell us where we should look inside here. A meth bust earlier this month in the Wausau area, however, is not related to the Gran Chute case, authorities said. DaoThao, 39,St. Paul, Minnesota:possessing 50 grams or more of meth with intent to distribute. Contact Natalie Brophy at (715) 216-5452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. While the arrest was good news for law enforcement in Hobart and elsewhere in Brown County, Bani doesn't pretend thatthis arrest will make the use of illicit drugs in the region go away. David Castillo-Lopez, 30,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Commander Domenico Napolitano, head of the financial police for the city of Naples, told CNN . Believe the 58 pounds of methamphetamine in 2017 after afive-month investigation possessing 50 grams or more of.! By theCentral Wisconsin Narcotics task force officers say they were called to a cartel source, direct back Mexico. Because it & # x27 ; s linked to -- you guessed it -- cocaine area on 11. Suitcases and bags full of drugs and a Loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors on! 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