DOJ Teams Up With FBI On MENOMINEE INDIAN RESERVATION DRUG BUST

Successful NADGI Partnership Leads to Eight Arrests

MENOMINEE On August 20, 2009 the Wisconsin Department of Justice announced the arrest of eight co-conspirators on federal drug distribution charges.

Richard A. Dodge (22), Roberto R. James (50) , Elissa R. Peters (22), Joseph L. Sanapaw, Jr. (46), Joseph L. Sanapaw III (29), Richard Schreiber (40), Jeffrey L. Silos (24) and Raymond A. Tourtillott (29) were arrested for violation of Title 21 U.S. C. 841, Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Native American Drug & Gang Initiative (NADGI), the FBI's Menominee Indian Reservation Safe Trails Task Force. NADGI is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Tribal Law Enforcement agencies and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation to combat drug and gang activity on Wisconsin's Native American Reservations. NADGI includes the Bad River Police Department, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Police Department, Lac du Flambeau Police Department, Menominee Tribal Police Department, Oneida Police Department, Red Cliff Police Department, St. Croix Police Department and the Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department.

"NADGI is a very important partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Wisconsin's Tribal Nations to fight crime on reservations," said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. "I congratulate all of the participating agencies for the success of this operation."

Law enforcement officials from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, Menominee Indian Tribal Police, Menominee County Sheriff's Department, Shawano County Sheriff's Office, and the Oneida Police Department participated in the investigation leading to the eight arrests.

An arrest is merely an accusation. A defendant in a criminal matter enjoys the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.