Menominee Man Indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter and Fleeing Resulting in Death after Vehicle Crash on Menominee Indian Reservation
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a man with involuntary manslaughter and fleeing an officer resulting in death following a vehicle crash on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Desmond L. Waukau, Jr., a 21-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Green Bay area.
The indictment charged Waukau as follows:
| COUNT | DATE | CHARGE | PENALTY |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | May 19, 2024 | Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112 and 1153(a) | Up to 8 years in prison; up to $250,000 fine |
| Two | May 19, 2024 | Fleeing an Officer Resulting in Death. 18 U.S.C. § 13(a) and Wis. Stat. §§ 346.04(3) and 346.17(3)(d) | 30-month mandatory minimum, up to 25 years in prison; up to $250,000 fine |
Waukau also faces terms of supervised release and special assessments of $100 per count if convicted.
According to filed court documents, on or about September 20, 2024, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Waukau attempted to elude a marked police vehicle. Waukau accelerated the vehicle he was operating and, while under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance, thereof crashed the vehicle. This is alleged to have caused the death of a passenger.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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