Shawano Man Indicted for Drug Offense 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 one-count indictment charging a man with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances following an incident on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Jerome D. Crowe, a 37-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Shawano area.

The indictment charged Crowe with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of this offense, Crowe faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. Crowe also faces a term of supervised release and a special assessment of $100 if convicted.

According to filed court documents, on or about November 19, 2024, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Crowe possessed cocaine in a quantity indicating an intent to distribute.

The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, 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.

Agencies investigated the case under the auspices of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). NADGI and STTF partner federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. STTF members are deputized federal officers who identify and target for prosecution individuals who are involved in distribution of dangerous drugs on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Coordination of state resources through NADGI permits efficient communication and evidence processing, which are essential to swift but fair prosecution of offenders.

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.