GREEN BAY, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – A 6-month-long investigation including searches in Brown County and Chicago resulted in the arrest of 7 people. Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Brown County Drug Task Force worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dismantle a “large-scale drug trafficking organization.”

Brown County Sheriff Todd DeLain said five search warrants were issued in Brown County and one was issued in Chicago. The searches were executed simultaneously. Twelve kilos of fentanyl, four kilos of cocaine, 748 grams of methamphetamine, 460 grams of heroin, and 16 firearms were seized.

Drugs seized in searches as Brown County, FBI, DEA and other organizations dismantle “large-scale drug trafficking operation” in Brown County and Chicago. (Photo: Submitted by Brown County Sheriff’s Office)

“Twelve kilos of fentanyl is a significant amount of fentanyl, even if you’re in Chicago, Illinois. That’s an eye-opening amount,” said DeLain.

DeLain said the organization is the largest distributor of fentanyl in Brown County, and this is the largest seizure of powdered fentanyl in Brown County.

“It is believed that this drug trafficking organziation was the largest distributor of fentanyl in Brown County,” Sheriff Delain said. “People who distribute fentanyl in our community are ruining lives and killing people. This joint investigation certainly saves lives.”

A “large-scale drug trafficking operation” in Brown County and Chicago is dismantled and seven arrests made after search warrants executed. (Photo: Submitted by Brown County Sheriff’s Office)

Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis said the amount seized helps to visualize how big the fentanyl problem is.

“The entire nation is experiencing an epidemic of problems related to illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine. And this is a huge amount of fentanyl that was seized in this case. It’s just another example of that problem,” Davis said.

In 2023 Brown County had 60 accidental illicit drug overdose deaths, of which about 80% were directly linked to fentanyl.

Drug trafficking arrests

The following arrests and charges were made:

Felton Currie
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Methamphetamine (>50g)
- Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (<10g)- 2 counts
- Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (10-50g) – 8 counts
- Possession with the intent to deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Manufacturer/deliver Methamphetamine (10-50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (200-1000g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (1000-2500g)
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of a firearm by a felon
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place
Michael Oliver
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Possession of THC
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place
James Grandberry
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Methamphetamine (>50g)
- Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (<10g)- 2 counts
- Manufacturer/deliver Methamphetamine (10-50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (200-1000g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Methamphetamine (>50g)
- Possession of THC
- Neglecting a child – 2 counts
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place – 3 counts
Cheri Austin
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Possession of THC
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place – 2 counts
Kyla Sanache
- Possession of narcotic drugs
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (200-1000g)
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place
- Neglecting a child
Ebony Grandberry
- Possession with the intent to deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (200-1000g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Methamphetamine (>50g)
- Possession of THC
- Neglecting a child – 2 counts
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place – 3 counts
Jessica Wright
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Cocaine (>40g)
- Conspiracy-Manufacturer/deliver Methamphetamine (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Fentanyl (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver Cocaine (>50g)
- Possession with the intent to deliver THC (200-1000g)
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place – 2 counts
- Child neglect – 2 counts

Formal charges have yet to be filed, but DeLain said all seven suspects have appeared in court and had high bonds set.

Sixteen firearms were seized as Brown County, FBI, DEA and other organizations dismantle “large-scale drug trafficking operation” in Brown County and Chicago. (Photo: Submitted by Brown County Sheriff’s Office)

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