PROTECTIVE ORDER OK'D IN DRUG CASE

Fearing that witnesses' lives may be on the line during the prosecution of
an alleged drug kingpin from Chicago in Milwaukee County Circuit Court,
authorities are obtaining court orders limiting the disclosure of names and
other identifying information of witnesses in the case.

Circuit Judge Richard J. Sankovitz, who is presiding over the case of
Kenneth L. Green and his co-defendants in what is alleged to be a massive
marijuana distribution ring, was told that figures in the conspiracy have
"been threatened and shot" because of what they know, according to court
records.

In his motion for a "protective order" limiting the disclosure and
dissemination of information in the case, Assistant District Attorney John
Chisholm said investigators have information "that Kenneth Green had
orchestrated those actions because they had either talked to police or had
been talking too much in the community about his criminal enterprise."

"Other members of Kenneth Green's criminal enterprise have admitted to law
enforcement that they have attempted to shoot individuals in connection
with the drug distribution enterprise," Chisholm wrote later in his motion.
"Witnesses in the above entitled matters have expressed concern to law
enforcement officials relating to the disclosure of their names, addresses
and other identifying information which would subject them to potential
retribution and/or intimidation should their identities be known."

One prosecution witness has learned that Green is attempting to locate his
whereabouts, and that "a $10,000 bounty has been placed on his life to any
person that could guarantee or prevent him from testifying," Chisholm wrote.

Finally, according to Chisholm, "numerous" co-defendants "have indicated
that they are unwilling to cooperate in a trial due to their concerns and
beliefs that members of Kenneth Green's organization would harm them or
their families should they choose to testify at trial."

Green, 37, is awaiting trial in the County Jail in lieu of $10 million
bail, an amount never before ordered in a Milwaukee County Circuit Court
case. Green, who has been charged with eight counts, including a rarely
used state racketeering charge, is believed by authorities to head a ring
responsible for the distribution of tens of thousands of pounds of
marijuana a year in Milwaukee.

The ring also is alleged to have distributed occasional kilograms of
cocaine when the marijuana market was lean. Ten other people have been
charged in the case, which began with a secret probe 16 months ago.

The protective order signed by Sankovitz allows prosecutors to redact
identifying information from some police reports shared with defense
attorneys if it is believed someone's life may be in danger. The order also
prohibits defense attorneys from disseminating some police reports and case
preparation materials to their clients.