Milwaukee-area drug investigation; court filings help connect dots

Police and prosecutors announced arrests and charges last week in an investigation into large-scale drug dealing in West Allis that dates back to at least early 2023.

Drug investigation

What we know:

A long-term drug investigation in Milwaukee County has led to charges against 17 people, and 10 people have court dates as prosecutors connect the dots.

The backstory:

As Milwaukee's Washington High School made its finals run in 2019, basketball standout Deontay Long already stood out for his actions off the court – a year before he pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

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Also, part of that team was Koriayon McKay.

Nearly six years later, Long would be dead and McKay in court.

Timeline:

Around 6 a.m. last Wednesday, roughly 200 law enforcement officers from 11 agencies fanned out across Milwaukee County, including an apartment building near 89th and Mill where police arrested Koriayon McKay and his brother, John.

The investigation dates back to at least June 2023. Prosecutors said these charges stem from connections to a group known as "Free Gram Enterprises."

Warrants and unsealed criminal complaints say that's when police got a tip about people in a car at a target parking lot, trying to sell drugs.

In the car were three people, including Trevion and Terrion Pierce.

Items seized in drug investigation (Courtesy: WAPD)

Days later, police searched an apartment near 108th and Morgan, targeting the McKay brothers and Terrion Pierce, and found drugs and guns.

Fast-forward to early 2024; police searched an apartment near 112th and National tied to Pierce, plus a self-storage unit on Milwaukee's far northwest side.

In the apartment, filings say police found drug packaging and manufacturing materials, fentanyl, crack and a U-Haul storage key, in the storage unit a "large amount of U.S. currency."

Then, late last month,  prosecutors say Valentin Santana shot and killed Long and Rodeny Walls while riding in a car near 38th and Nash.

Related

Milwaukee-area drug investigation; 7 more make court appearances

A Milwaukee-area drug ring investigation led to the arrests of 11 people earlier this week. One person had their charges dismissed.

Court filings say Long had $400 and four bags of cocaine and fentanyl in his pocket.

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Police also named Santana a suspect in connection to the larger drug investigation.

What we don't know:

The full scope of all this is unclear. The 117-page complaint is sealed.

What's next:

Arrest warrants are still out for several defendants in the case and more charges are possible in the drug investigation.

The Source: Information in this report is from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, West Allis Police Department and Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

Crime and Public SafetyWest AllisMilwaukeeNews