Thirteen people have been sentenced following an investigation into a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation that moved drugs from Arizona to Wisconsin.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Chadwick Elgersma announced the conclusion of the investigation on July 15.
“These thirteen convictions mark a decisive blow against a multi-state criminal organization that threatened the safety of our communities,” Elgersma said in a statement.
“The success of this investigation is the direct result of a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who worked together, through a whole of government strategy, to dismantle a high-level fentanyl trafficking operation.”
The investigation began in January 2022 after authorities seized two mail packages sent from Arizona to Madison. Each contained about one kilogram of the drug, or approximately 20,000 fentanyl pills.
Elgersma said the year-long investigation included 23 controlled purchases of fentanyl pills.
Investigators later intercepted a third package containing 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl, leading to arrests and search warrants.
Authorities seized nearly 5 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 10 firearms, and more than $97,000 in cash.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wisconsin, Lloyd McKire-Bennett, 30, led the interstate drug trafficking organization.
He was sentenced to 164 months in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon.
In Arizona, Jessica Leyvas, 40, of Tucson, was sentenced to five years’ probation for attempting to distribute fentanyl.
Kevin Simmons, 32, of Tucson, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
Other defendants sentenced were Messiah Fleming, 24, of Madison, to four years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Deshawn Davis, 31, of Madison, received 66 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Dejon Glover, 25, received 4 1/2 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Christopher Wilson, 30, was sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
John Maser, 37, was given four months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Davonte King, 31, received seven years in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Tyez Boyd, 28, was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Alicia Allen, 40, of Windsor, Wisconsin, received four years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute and money laundering.
Yoshi Walker, 27, of New Brighton, Minnesota, received six years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Dantrell Stevenson, 33, of Matteson, Illinois, was given two years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force led the investigation, with assistance from the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force.
The prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force Program, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
