Three-Time Federal Defendant Sentenced to 12 Years’ Imprisonment

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 3, 2024, Ramone J. Locke, Sr. (age: 37) of Milwaukee, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, followed by four years' supervised release.

According to court records, a proactive law enforcement investigation revealed that Locke was supplying cocaine traffickers operating on Milwaukee's North Side. That investigation culminated in Locke's arrest in June 2022, with two kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a secret compartment in his car. As part of Locke's guilty plea in this case, he admitted that his drug trafficking with this group involved five-to-fifteen kilograms of cocaine. Locke had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including federal convictions for money laundering involving cocaine and using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Before imposing sentence, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman found that Locke had obstructed justice while this case was pending, by attempting to intimidate a witness against him. Judge Adelman also found that Locke had supervised others beneath him in the drug distribution trade.

Court records also revealed that Locke was also involved with violence or threatening violence, messaging with his family members regarding firearms; their rivals; and Locke's intention to "kill" another individual himself.

"Despite prior federal convictions, Mr. Locke returned to drug trafficking and to conduct involving firearms, violence, and witness intimidation," said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. "The sentence imposed in this case was the direct result of tireless work by federal, state, and local law enforcement - all of whom are dedicated to making the Eastern District of Wisconsin as safe as possible for everyone who lives and works here."

"The severity of this sentence illustrates the importance of holding accountable those who threaten the community with violence and drug trafficking" said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. "I commend the Milwaukee Police Department and Racine County Sheriff's Office for their diligence in investigating this case and the United States Attorney's Office for prosecuting it."

Sheriff Schmaling stated, "I am extremely proud of the work done by the deputies involved in this case. From a simple traffic stop, the deputy performed an interview of the driver who gave answers that aroused the deputy's suspicions. The back-up deputy used K9 Zeke to establish probable cause of the presence of contraband, and the deputies thoroughly and meticulously searched the vehicle - ultimately defeating a sophisticated trap compartment to locate four and a half pounds of fentanyl laced cocaine. It is impossible to measure the number of lives saved by these deputies, the subsequent prosecution, and ultimately conviction of this dangerous criminal. Fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. These are not just drug cases; these are potential homicides, and in this case lives saved."

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Racine County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Halopka-Ivery and Kevin Knight.

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