United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced on January 6, 2020, that Antonio Jamerson (age: 21) was sentenced to 124 months’ imprisonment and Elix Powell (age: 21) was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for their involvement in the armed robbery of the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy. 

The investigation revealed that Jamerson and Powell traveled from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, arriving during the early morning hours of December 28, 2016. At approximately 9:15 a.m., the defendants, armed with a firearm, robbed the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  At the sentencing, Judge J.P. Stadtmueller emphasized the extremely violent nature of the robbery, including the fact that the defendants physically restrained multiple victims.   

“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute and seek substantial prison sentences for anyone who uses a firearm to terrorize our communities,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “The lengthy sentences imposed here resulted from an outstanding collaborative law enforcement effort by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force, the Wauwatosa Police Department, and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.”

 The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, provides federal jurisdiction for cases involving violent criminals who commit armed robbery of businesses involved in interstate commerce.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office collaborate together to ensure that violent offenders are effectively prosecuted, making our communities safer for all. 

This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://go.usa.gov/xpBrs

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Kwaterski.

  # #  #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700

Follow us on Twitter

One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”  

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger explained today that throughout the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

“Every resident of our District deserves to live in a safe community,” United States Attorney Krueger said. “We recognize that reducing violence requires a comprehensive approach that involves all parts of our community. Through the PSN program, we are committed to working together with federal, state, local, and community partners to use all available tools to make our neighborhoods safer.” United States Attorney Krueger highlighted some of the District’s PSN actions over the past year:

Enforcement Actions

A central focus of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prosecute the most violent groups and individuals who use firearms to commit crimes:

On January 18, 2018, Joel Rivera was sentenced to 36 years of imprisonment for committing two armed business robberies in the City of Milwaukee. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, which is a collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Milwaukee Police Department.  https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-36-years-federal-prison-armed-robberies

 

On April 29, 2018, Otis Hunter was sentenced to a mandatory 107 years of imprisonment for committing three armed business robberies and two armed carjackings in Milwaukee.   His co-actor was sentenced to a mandatory 32 years for committing two of those robberies. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force.  https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/milwaukee-man-sentenced-107-years-prison-five-armed-robberies

 

On May 15, 2018, Elix Powell and Antonio Jamerson were charged with the armed robbery of the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy in the City of Wauwatosa.  If they are convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/two-men-indicted-federal-court-armed-robbery-wauwatosa-pharmacy

 

On June 26, 2018, seven defendants were charged in a sixteen count indictment alleging, among other charges, a conspiracy to distribute heroin.  On August 7, 2018, eight defendants were charged in a twenty-one count indictment for conspiring to distribute heroin as well.  The arrest of these fifteen defendants in these two cases led to the recovery of fifteen firearms.  The charges resulted from long-term federal, state and local drug investigations, including the Milwaukee Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”), the United States Marshals Service, the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Department, the West Allis Police Department and the Wauwatosa Police Department. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/eight-milwaukee-defendants-charged-federal-court-heroin-conspiracy

 

On August 1, 2018, Jimmy Desotell was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm in Brown County and other communities in Northeastern Wisconsin. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) and the Brown County Drug Task Force.  https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/green-bay-man-receives-15-year-sentence-methamphetamine-distribution-and-firearm-charge

 

On September 18, 2018, Nickie Foster, Marquel Johnson, and Martell Ford were indicted for committing a series of seven armed robberies of taxi cab drivers and gas station employees in the Milwaukee area. If convicted of all counts at trial, the defendants will face significant mandatory minimum sentences. They will also face a maximum of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force.  https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/three-indicted-robberies-taxi-cab-drivers-and-gas-station-employees

 

Another significant aspect of the PSN enforcement strategy is to prevent violent crime by prosecuting the illegal proliferation of firearms. Intelligence from ATF and other local law enforcement partners allows criminal investigators to focus their efforts on finding, and ultimately prosecuting, unauthorized firearm dealers and straw purchasers of firearms. For example, on September 18, 2018, Rachel Morzfeld was indicted for falsely claiming that she purchased five firearms for herself, when, in fact, it is alleged that she purchased the firearms for others in Union Grove, Wisconsin. In addition, Federal and state prosecutors regularly communicate to determine the best venue to prosecute individuals who possess firearms illegally.

Community Partnerships

In addition to efforts to prosecute violent offenders, district-based police and prosecutor teams work with community organizations to restore properties to their highest quality, assist residents and business owners in creating and enforcing positive neighborhood norms, and create neighborhood crime-reduction plans focused on prevention of gun violence.

PSN is also focused on positive prisoner reentry, which consists of regular face-to-face call-ins of individuals aged sixteen to twenty-six who recently were released from local, state, or federal correctional institutions. Notification sessions are organized and facilitated by community-based agencies that provide trauma-informed and healing-focused care to those involved in the criminal justice system. The program ensures connections to critical assistance and support to the returning offenders and community resources and services.

Yesterday, October 2, 2018, a Reentry Summit was hosted in Kenosha, featuring inspirational messages from previously incarcerated individuals on how to set returning citizens up for success through healing and right partnerships. The Summit also included networking events to introduce prospective employers to agencies that help prepare formerly incarcerated individuals for the world of work. A similar event was hosted in November 2017 in Milwaukee and was attended by 435 individuals. 

Improvements to Community Safety

The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration, the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline.  The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.

 

The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.

 

From October 1, 2017, to September 17, 2018, Milwaukee County law enforcement agencies have recovered 2,872 firearms.

 

Homicides in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 8%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of homicides committed a year ago at this time.

 

Non-fatal shootings in the City of Milwaukee have decreased 16%, as of September 30, 2018, compared to the number of non-fatal shootings a year ago at this time.

 

These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.

#    #    #    #    #

 

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that two people were indicted for the armed robbery of the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Elix Powell (age: 19 ) of Indianapolis, Indiana and Antonio Jamerson (age: 19) Chicago, Illinois were charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery pursuant to the Hobbs Act, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. 

The indictment alleges that on December 28, 2016, the defendants, armed with a firearm, robbed the Swan Serv-U Pharmacy, located at 9130 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison on the armed robbery count and a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years and up to life in prison on the charge of use of a firearm during a robbery. 

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Wauwatosa Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura S. Kwaterski.

This case is being investigated and prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, provides federal jurisdiction for cases involving violent criminals who commit armed robbery of businesses involved in interstate commerce. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office collaborate together to ensure that violent offenders are effectively prosecuted, making our communities safer for all. 

The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

#    #    #    #    #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700