WOOD COUNTY JUDGE WARNS DRUG DEALERS TO AVOID CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Judge Edward Zappen Jr. has a message for drug dealers
in Milwaukee, Rockford, Ill., and Madison.

"One thing you can tell them is 'don't come to Wisconsin Rapids,'" Zappen
said. "What I really get mad about is when people come up here and commit
crimes." Zappen gave the message to Michael L. English, 23, of Milwaukee
during his plea hearing and sentencing in Wood County Circuit Court Friday.
Zappen sentenced English to 13 years' imprisonment with six years in prison
followed by seven years of extended supervision for conspiracy to deliver
in excess of 40 grams of cocaine. The charge was reduced from a charge of
conspiracy to deliver in excess of 100 grams of cocaine as a subsequent
offender. A second identical charge was dismissed. If convicted of the
original charges, English would have received a mandatory minimum sentence
of 20 years' imprisonment.

According to the criminal complaint, a 20-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man
admitted to being partners in selling cocaine with English. From July
through December 2000, the man and English purchased about 41U2 pounds of
cocaine, with a total street value between $72,000 and $108,000, and
brought it to the Wisconsin Rapids area from Milwaukee, the complaint said.

Four women and two men told authorities they sold drugs for English, went
with him to purchase drugs and/or witnessed him preparing drugs for sale
from 1999 through 2001, according to the complaint.

Zappen asked English why he came to Wisconsin Rapids.

"I get really upset when you guys from Milwaukee, Rockford and Madison
bring this garbage up here," Zappen said. "Why would you come up here and
bring this trash into this community? Why would you do this to us?"

Zappen told English he believes he made a good deal. If the case had gone
to trial and English was found guilty of the original crimes, the sentence
would have been much harder, Zappen said.

"I probably would have sent you to prison for 40 to 60 years," Zappen said.
Wood County District Attorney Todd Wolf said he gave English the deal
because he cooperated with authorities, enabling them to prosecute a number
of people, including Ahmed Gross, 24, of Wisconsin Rapids, who is accused
of being the ringleader of a major drug trafficking ring. Gross currently
is being held in the Portage County Jail.

If English doesn't follow through on his promise to be a witness in other
cases, the dismissed charge of conspiracy to deliver in excess of 100 grams
of cocaine can be brought back, Wolf said.

English was recruited by Gross to come to Wisconsin Rapids to sell cocaine,
Wolf said. He would distribute the drugs to at least 11 people in the area
who would do the actual selling.

"It resulted in a flood of cocaine in this area," Wolf said. "The
information I have is that since Mr. English and Mr. Gross have been
incarcerated, there's been a lot less of this drug out there."

Ronald Benavides, English's attorney, said English began cooperating with
authorities the minute he was arrested. The only delay occurred when law
enforcement wanted to wait until English has secured an attorney, he said.