Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on August 6, 2024, highlighting the efforts and successes in combating violent crime and drug trafficking.
"Thanks, Greg, for that generous introduction. And for your leadership of this office," Garland began.
Garland emphasized the importance of partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in addressing violent crime. He reflected on his own experiences from the early 1990s as a line attorney prosecuting violent crime and narcotics, noting that collaboration has always been a crucial element.
"So, we built an anti-violent crime strategy rooted in strengthening our collaboration across federal law enforcement; with state and local law enforcement; and with the communities that all of us serve," he said.
The Attorney General highlighted several successful initiatives in Wisconsin aimed at reducing violent crime and drug trafficking. He mentioned recent data from Milwaukee indicating a 10% drop in overall crime and a 39% decrease in homicides in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. Nationwide, there was also a significant decline in violent crime rates over the past year.
"But we know that progress may be uneven in many communities is. And of course, there is no level of violent crime that is acceptable," Garland stated.
He detailed several notable prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In March, working with local law enforcement agencies and the ATF, they secured a nine-year sentence for a man who illegally possessed a firearm after threatening children and injuring their mother during an incident in Oshkosh.
In May, four men were convicted for multiple pharmacy robberies in Milwaukee where they used handguns to threaten staff and stole controlled substances.
Garland underscored ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl distribution within Wisconsin communities. In April, cooperation between various agencies led to a 25-year sentence for a Green Bay man responsible for distributing counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl which resulted in two teenage deaths.
Last month saw another significant conviction: a 20-year sentence for an individual who distributed fentanyl leading to another teenager's death. The Justice Department remains committed to dismantling every link within the fentanyl distribution chain.
Additional convictions included a man from Appleton sentenced to 15 years for distributing nearly one million fentanyl pills across multiple states and another individual sentenced to 12 years for fentanyl crimes impacting Menominee and Ho-Chunk Tribal communities.
"Fentanyl is the deadliest drug this country has ever faced," Garland remarked while expressing gratitude towards various law enforcement partners involved in these cases.
Garland concluded by expressing pride in U.S. Attorney Haanstad’s leadership along with appreciation towards all members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication towards ensuring public safety through rigorous prosecution efforts against violent criminals and drug traffickers.
"I am very proud of the work of U.S. Attorney Haanstad and all the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin."
---