Sheriff’s officials say they have arrested four and dismantled a drug house in Kenosha County that was tied to fraud, mail theft and burglaries, some of which occurred in Lake County.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office announced they concluded a “significant phase” of an ongoing investigation involving stolen mail, financial fraud, narcotics activity and burglary-related offenses.
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Lt. Chase Forster said deputies investigated multiple fraud complaints connected to stolen mail over the past approximately six weeks.
Detectives learned that personal and business checks were being stolen from mailboxes, altered and fraudulently used to obtain money.
Detectives were assigned to the investigation and developed information identifying several individuals believed to be involved, Forster said.
Kenosha County detectives uncovered evidence during the investigation linking the suspects to additional criminal activity, including narcotics offenses and burglaries involving storage units in the Antioch area, Forster said.
Members of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Bureau, KDOG Unit and deputies executed a search warrant on Tuesday at a residence in the 11400 block of Antioch Road in Trevor, Wisconsin.
Four suspects were taken into custody during the search warrant, including Frank W. McClaughry, 40; Alicia R. Wojtowicz, 42; Thomas D. Wilton, 53; and Tammy F. Wilton (Wolbeck), 54.
Forster said detectives recovered a substantial amount of evidence during the search warrant, including more than 150 items associated with narcotics distribution, fraud activity and burglary investigations.
The items recovered included 28.3 grams of methamphetamine, 27.3 grams of marijuana, 6.1 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 0.5 grams of MDMA, a small quantity of cocaine, digital scales and drug paraphernalia.
They also found fraudulent and altered checks, check-washing materials and equipment, numerous burglary tools, identification cards belonging to other individuals and suspected stolen property connected to Antioch-area storage unit burglaries.
McClaughry was charged with two counts of mail theft, two counts of misappropriation of personal identification materials, four counts of felony bail jumping, possession of burglary tools, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He also had four active felony warrants.
Wojtowicz was charged with two counts of mail theft and two counts of misappropriation of personal identification materials. She also had a probation hold.
Thomas Wilton was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Tammy Wilton was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of methamphetamine. She also had a felony probation hold.
The charges are preliminary and additional charges are expected as the investigation continues, Forster said.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office said it is coordinating with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office regarding the storage unit burglaries in Antioch.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said one of the individuals arrested in Kenosha County is believed to be connected to a stolen check case that his agency is investigating in unincorporated Lake Villa.
Covelli said his agency is not investigating any storage facility thefts but believes it was in incorporated Antioch.
Antioch Police Department Public Information Officer Jared Brussaly said his department is in communication and collaborating with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office and is working to identify potential victims.
“The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office will continue to aggressively target drug traffickers, drug houses, and the criminals who bring this activity into our communities. Investigations like this send a clear message that we will not tolerate the distribution of dangerous narcotics, organized crime, or repeat criminal behavior in Kenosha County,” Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said.
“Our deputies and detectives remain committed to protecting our residents, holding offenders accountable, and working with our law enforcement partners to shut down these criminal operations wherever they exist,” Zoerner said.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office said they recognize the efforts of all detectives, deputies, supervisors and evidence personnel who assisted throughout the investigation and search warrant operation.
“Their teamwork and dedication led to the recovery of a significant amount of evidence and the dismantling of an active criminal operation tied to narcotics trafficking, fraud, and property crimes,” the agency said.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud related to this investigation and has not yet reported it is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.