A street gang operating in Milwaukee is accused of embezzling millions of dollars in Covid-19 relief funds, which were subsequently used to fund a murder, acquire firearms and drugs, and make other purchases. The comprehensive indictment lists 30 members of the gang known as the “Wild 100s” or the “Shark Gang” and charges them with various crimes, such as mail fraud, conspiracy to sell firearms, possession of illegal firearms (including a machine gun), and possession of drugs with intent to sell. The indictment, consisting of 43 counts, was recently unsealed after being returned by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
According to the indictment, the alleged leader of the gang, Ronnell Bowman, and his accomplice Ronnie Jackson, were charged with a murder-for-hire scheme resulting in the death of an individual identified only as N.B. in April 2021. Both Bowman and Jackson have pleaded not guilty. While Bowman awaits trial in detention after being apprehended in the Houston area in May, if convicted, he and Jackson could face life sentences.
During a detention hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Kwaterski stated that Bowman orchestrated the fraud scheme, personally responsible for $850,000 in stolen Covid relief funds. Kwaterski also revealed that Bowman taught other gang members fraudulent methods, leading to the theft of millions of dollars in relief money.
The indictment alleges that the “Wild 100s” submitted fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in multiple states, including California. The defendants would then utilize pre-loaded debit cards provided by the states’ unemployment programs to withdraw cash from ATMs in Wisconsin. The embezzled funds were subsequently used for various illicit purposes, such as arranging the murder, acquiring firearms (including machine guns), and purchasing drugs, jewelry, clothing, vacations, and other items.
Evidence presented during the detention hearing revealed that Bowman used the stolen funds to solicit the murder and obtain multiple firearms. He then distributed these weapons to others, knowing they would be used for violent activities, including murder. Kwaterski also presented evidence that Bowman solicited the murder of a rival gang member’s mother or sister via Instagram, resulting in the killing of the rival gang member’s friend. Reportedly, Jackson received $10,000 for carrying out the murder. Kwaterski further implicated Bowman in two additional murders associated with gang warfare.
The “Wild 100s” operation’s dismantling was part of a nationwide effort by Justice Department strike teams to crack down on the theft of $836 million in Covid relief funds. In total, 371 defendants have been charged with various fraud offenses as a result of this operation.
In May 2021, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland established a task force dedicated to pursuing those who have embezzled Covid relief funds. As of now, criminal charges have been filed against over 3,000 individuals, and over $1.4 billion in stolen funds has been recovered by the DOJ. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco recently announced the establishment of new strike teams in Colorado and New Jersey to continue the pursuit of stolen relief funds.
Monaco stated, “We will seek judicial orders requiring convicted defendants to pay back every stolen dollar, and we have 20 years to realize those recoveries.” Thus, the government remains determined to hold fraudsters accountable and ensure the return of unlawfully obtained funds.
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