24 charged in extensive drug, gambling case

Published 11:51 am Thursday, June 2, 2011

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Federal officials have charged 24 people in connection with an extensive drug and gambling case that covered Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, California and Illinois as well as Canada.

Twenty-three people were arrested May 24 in southeastern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Los Angeles and Minneapolis-St. Paul. A 44-year-old Los Angeles man is still at large.

U.S. Attorney James Santelle said hundreds of pounds of marijuana was transported from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia to Minnesota, southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. About $1.3 million has been seized in the case.

He said law enforcement got a tip about a year ago out of Washington that led to the investigation that also included a sports betting operation that generated tens of thousands of dollars weekly.

The indictment was handed down last month but unsealed Thursday.