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It's like a plot straight out of the Netflix crime drama "Ozark." Federal charges have been filed against a man accused of selling large quantities of meth out of a hotel room in Grand Chute. She has not been publicly identified. Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. "At the gram level, in Northeast Wisconsin, it would have been over $2 million at the end," says Kinnard. A further search of the vehicle turned up the following: --13.9 grams of marijuana (found in safe). On Sept. 9, investigators met with a confidential source who had purchased "large quantities of methamphetamine" from Liebergen. 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. Liebergen also is charged with possessing a firearm while committing a drug-trafficking crime. Students Gather For 8th Annual "I Love To Read" Event, Coffee Conversation: Singing With The Stars Happening Friday, Award And Author Event Supporting Duluth Public Library, Northland Happenings, Weekend of February 24, 2023. Lisa Xiong, 31, Wausau:conspiring to distribute meth,three counts of distributing 5 grams or more, possessing 50 grams or more of meth with intent to distribute. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. RACINE - Authorities arrested eight suspected major drug traffickers and seized more than $60,000 worth of drugs in what law enforcement called one of the biggest drug busts in Racine County history. The seizure by the Brown County Sheriff's Office of 10.68 pounds of. And then he made a connection there to a cartel source, direct back into Mexico," says Kinnard. After commemorating Recovery Month in September, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson says the dismantling of such a large drug organization is important in the fight against addiction. Marathon County prosecutors filed charges against four more. A federal grand jury in Green Bay has indicted nine people in the drug conspiracy--believed to be one of the largest in state history. MESA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- In the biggest drug bust recorded in Mesa Police Department history, officers uncovered over 700,000 fentanyl pills and more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine earlier this month. 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. Sheriff Ron Cramer says this will go down as one of the largest seizures for. Ronk said a gram of cocaine can sell for about $100, while an ounceof the stimulantcan fetch between $1,300 and $1,800 depending on how pure it is, where it is soldand other factors. He admitted to traveling from Missouri to Wisconsin with meth. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, in February of 2021, deputies responded to a narcotics overdose investigation in the Village of Salem Lakes. Drug traffickers with ties to Mexican cartels are setting up. Such a vehiclecan retail for between $28,000 and $35,000 in this region, depending on mileage and condition. Jan 26, 2022 0 Three people have been arrested what the La Crosse Police Department describes as the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the city's history. After examining the bags police found 68-pounds of cocaine totaling an estimated $3 million in street value. Cartel connection: tracing meth from Missouri to Northeast Wisconsin hotels, 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. 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. The Wood County Sheriff's. The task force used confidential informants, undercover officers, surveillance, covert cameras and wiretapsto investigate the distribution ring, court documents state. "When you're talking this large, this ties back to cartels," the sheriff continues. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Authorities had not made the arrest public. Kai Chang, 28,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider. Contact Natalie Brophy at (715) 216-5452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Duluth Police say they were ready to take down the organization back in March, but the pandemic put a pause on their plan. Nearly 50 people are now being charged after a year-long investigation focused in Duluth, Rochester, and on the Iron. And I believe this could be one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine in the state of Wisconsin history. He said police have seen theflow of drugs into the region increase in the past five years; the same improved highway system that make it so families can reach vacation destinations more quickly also makes it easier for drug sellers to reach customers in the region. A search of her vehicle turned up the following: --Loaded Smith & Wesson MP Shield 9mm handgun. They searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9 mm handgun under the driver's seat, according to the affidavit. Liebergen is charged in federal court with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime. wo pu xb. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. In the bust, which occurred on Tuesday, authorities were able to seize, more than a pound of heroin and fentanyl, about two and a half pounds of methamphetamine, and two guns. The investigation was conducted by theCentral Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force. Although Tranquilandia is referred to as a drug lab, it's actually much bigger. Drug task force officers point to 26-year-old Derek Liebergen as the leader of the operation. Authorities would not say if the Grand Chute arrest is related to an Oconto Countybust, announced Tuesday, in which sheriff's deputies seized156grams of methamphetamine. Along with all the drugs, police also found $17,039 in cash and one gun with boxes of ammo. Suitcases full of drugs. He was found with suitcases and bags full of drugs and a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun, according to federal prosecutors. John Gates, 49, Hewitt:conspiring to distribute meth, two counts of attempting to possess the drug with intent to distribute. Kinnard believes the cartel sold it to Liebergen and made him believe it was something more powerful. TOWN OF LAWRENCE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) A person falling asleep in a vehicle at a gas station led to the largest drug bust in Hobart/Lawrence history, police say. The caller said that the vehicle, which was occupied by one person, was parked at the gas pumps for over an hour. A pound can fetch up to $7,000. Police said the man brought $20,000 to $30,000 worth of drugs into the county, though the value of the substances could reach much higher depending how it is packaged and distributed. Chou Xiong, 36,Wausau:conspiring to distribute meth, seven counts of distributing 5 grams or more,one count of distributing 50 grams or more. When officers arrived, they found the vehicle running and the person inside the car appeared to be asleep. zp. He stated his intent was to sell the meth to pay off a drug debt to his supplier, according to the complaint. The drug haul was destined for Brown County, and would likely have been sold locally, police said. Blader said the use of illegal drugs has become an epidemic in this country, with tens of thousands of people dying every year from overdoses. Among the. rc Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an. At a news conference Thursday, Duluth police officials said they worked with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to seize roughly 1,207 grams of meth and 527 grams of heroin and. It's fortunate, police say, that someone made that telephone call. The seizure by the Brown County Sheriffs Office of10.68 pounds of methamphetamine in 2017 after afive-month investigation. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The name of the suspect is reportedly being withheld, as it is an active investigation. Drugs, guns," says Lt. Kevin Kinnard, Brown County Drug Task Force. Live PD: Top 7 Biggest Money Busts | A&E A&E 9.28M subscribers Subscribe 93K Share 15M views 2 years ago #LivePD Stay up to date on all of A&E's premieres at http://aetv.com/schedule Check out. Federal investigators believe the 58 pounds of meth seized from Liebergen's hotel room is worth $500,000 - $750,000 on the street. 3 arrested in largest meth bust in La Crosse police history Nearly 11 pounds of meth with street value of $124,000 seized DavidPoteat said. A quantity of illegal drugs will sell for significantly more in Upper Michigan than in northeastern Wisconsin, Ronk said. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is between $132,000 and $142,000. "Once we identified that source with that amount of methamphetamine that was supposed to hit the streets, they worked together to take action and apprehend that individual so that it didn't get to the streets," says Sheriff Delain. Sheriff Shawn Becker says his team has been working with the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force and the Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation into the matter for several months, ending when a search warrant was executed on Thursday, December 9th. Someone notified sheriff's dispatchers that the driver of a car at the station appearedto have been asleep at thegas pumps for roughly an hour. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized over $16,000 in cash and a large quantity of high-valued jewelry from the home. The dealers broke it down to sell on the street. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Officers seized the following during the hotel bust: --1 kilogram of tramadol (prescription narcotic for pain). ve. m. 158 people will eventually be charged with drug trafficking, according to Wood County Sheriff Tom Reichert. Mai Xiong, 32, Wausau:delivery of 10-50 grams of meth,party to the crimeas a habitual criminality repeater. Their K-9, Rika . According to Duluth police, this ring sold an estimated $1 million worth of drugs between January and this month. An affidavit for Ullmer's arrest states that on Oct. 1, police officers pulled Ullmer over in Green Bay. He along with the others involved are being charged with six felony counts including conspiring and According to. They had to revamp their strategy, which led to the successful end of this drug operation. Her next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. What was going to be sold? Officers seized the following during the hotel bust: --1 kilogram of tramadol (prescription narcotic for pain). That turned up the following: --Alprazolam pills (panic/anxiety medication), --Drug ledgers with names, dollar amounts and dates. Other major Wisconsin meth busts in recent years include: The seizure of 19 pounds in Manitowoc County this May. Officers were able to wake the driver up, and as the driver removed his hands from his pockets, drug paraphernalia was seen. LAWRENCE, Wis. (WFRV) In what authorities are calling the largest drug bust in Hobart/Lawrence history, officers seized multiple items from a vehicle that was parked at Kwik Trips gas pumps for over an hour. A meth bust earlier this month in the Wausau area, however, is not related to the Gran Chute case, authorities said. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. He and his girlfriend, 25-year-old girlfriend Carley Poettker were arrested following the search. Police say they tookthousands of dollars' worth of illicit drugs off the street, as well as four loaded handgunsand ammunition. All rights reserved. This big drug bust is similar to the others because it's linked to -- you guessed it -- cocaine. tv. The department also says Menards has no connection to the case and reported the incident to law enforcement right away. No additional information was provided, Local 5 will continue to update this story. With demand for highly-addictive meth increasing, Kinnard says it is troubling so much meth was coming in through one group. On Oct. 3, Ullmer's girlfriend was arrested in Oconto Falls. "It's just kind of very brazen for sure," says Kinnard. Duluth police say this is the largest drug bust in history for the region. So that just shows you the fact that it spiders out," says Kinnard. Her, 61, Wausau:delivery of 3-10 grams of meth,delivery of 10-50 grams of meth as a habitual criminality repeater. The task force, formed in 2018, is made up of officers from the Marathon County and Lincoln County sheriff's offices, Wausau and Everest Metro police departments,Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigationand the FBI, Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks said. The DEA does know where the load was destined to go but are not releasing that information at this time. "This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the sheriff's office's history," Knight . 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. Officers "had to wake the guy up," Hobart-Lawrence Police Chief Randy Bani said. Can I legally marry my cousin in Wisconsin? Posted 8 Jun 2021 8 Jun 2021 Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 6:25am , updated . Sixteen people charged with drug crimes after meth investigation in Wausau area, 'Suitcases full' of methamphetamineseized in Appleton area, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Wausau woman Lisa Xiong, 31, who went by the nickname "Nova," wasthe leader of the meth ring, according to court documents. Police also seized about a kilogram 2.2 poundsof heroin or fentanyl, and a Ruger handgun. Serrano has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. All of the following items were seized: Methamphetamine Cocaine Fentanyl LSD Marijuana. After a lengthy investigation, officials say detectives uncovered a large drug trafficking organization in Pleasant Prairie. The $10 million worth of meth was enough to provide a dose for every man, woman, and child in the United States and . A search warrant was executed for Liebergen's hotel room in Grand Chute. Police said the man's "stash" includedsignificant amounts of cocaine, as well asmethamphetamine, fentanyl, LSD, marijuana, heroin,drug paraphernalia and about $50,000 in cash. 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. Charges: Anoka residents busted with over 1,000 grams of meth. The 14 tons of cocaine were owned by the AUC and guarded by the Marxists. A further search of the vehicle turned up the following: --13.9 grams of marijuana (found in safe). 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. 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. Deputies also confiscated24grams of MDMA commonly known as the club drug "ecstasy" 64grams of hashish oil, 27grams of marijuana, 3.5grams of cocaine, illegally obtained prescription medication, drug paraphernalia and two guns. David Castillo-Lopez, 30,Wausau:conspiracy to possess meth as a habitual criminality repeater. Authorities said they could not discuss specifics of the investigation. 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. al. Drug task force officers who worked the largest meth bust in Northeast Wisconsin say the drugs came from the Mexico Drug Cartel and were trafficked from Missouri to Wisconsin. : delivery of 3-10 grams of meth seized from Liebergen 's hotel in! Investigators met with a drug debt to his supplier, according to case. Know where the load was destined to go but are not releasing that information at time... Large quantities of meth counts including conspiring and according to federal prosecutors say, that made... 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