4 MORE INDICTED IN 3-YEAR DRUG PROBE

The discovery three years ago of a suitcase containing almost $200,000
in cash, a hotel receipt and a money order eventually led authorities
to a major California-to-Milwaukee drug ring that they continue to
pull apart today, federal court records show.

The events triggered by the find at Mitchell International Airport
included the seizure of 40 kilograms of cocaine in 1996, at the time
one of the largest drug busts in city history.

Three men are in prison for their part in the drug conspiracy, one is
doing time for covering up a related felony, and four more --
including the man who abandoned the suitcase -- were indicted earlier
this month on charges they also were involved in the ring.

The new indictment charges Theodore Anthony Michael -- also known as
"Supreme" -- as well as Francisco Martinez, Rogelio Lopez Garcia and
Marlin Triplett with conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms
of cocaine.

Details of the allegations against those four men are being kept
secret by federal prosecutors for now, and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Gail Hoffman declined to say why it took almost three years for the
latest indictments to be handed down. She did say, however, that
the discovery of the suitcase and its contents launched the
investigation.

It was Michael who allegedly abandoned the bag on Nov. 15, 1995, after
suspicious security guards raised questions about its contents.
Michael slipped up and provided authorities with a clear trail to
follow by leaving in the suitcase -- besides $199,101 in cash --
identification in his own name and a money order listing the name of
Julian Holmes. Holmes now is in prison on drug conspiracy charges.

An informant told investigators in January 1996 that "Supreme" was
Holmes' drug connection, and would supply large quantities of cocaine
from California, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.
The investigation was conducted by Milwaukee police, the FBI and the
DEA.

Two months later, after finding five kilogram wrappers with cocaine
residue in a garbage search, authorities searched Holmes' house. They
found a 9mm gun wrapped in a towel, and -- in a child's bedroom --
$2,020 in cash and a plastic bag with cocaine residue, according to a
summary of court documents. Plastic bags were hidden in the basement
ceiling rafters.

The probe progressed slowly, something Hoffman said is not uncommon in
investigations. Information is collected and leads are followed to
more information.

"It's like building a foundation in a house," she said. "It goes from
block to block."

Those blocks continued to link Michael and Holmes, California and
Milwaukee, authorities said. In September, police stopped a car driven
by Holmes for a traffic violation. A second man, Corwin Brown, was a
passenger. Brown was identified by the government as "Supreme's"
primary assistant, who traveled to Milwaukee with his boss, hauling
cocaine and cash.

Police found a gym bag containing $45,000 in the car. Holmes and Brown
both denied knowing about the money, according to court documents.

In November, police spotted Holmes and Michael together in a tavern,
and investigators got a tip that Michael was in town to deliver about
50 kilograms of cocaine to Holmes. Three other men -- Brown, Larry
Cain and Jerod Garner -- connected to the conspiracy also were there.

Holmes and Cain, under the watchful but apparently unnoticed eyes of
law enforcement officers, made numerous trips to an east side
apartment building over the next several days. They would stay inside
for only short periods of time.

The two were arrested Nov 13, 1996, after yet another traffic stop led
to the discovery of a gun in the car they were using. Again, a search
turned up money -- a plastic grocery bag containing $1,000.

Officers went to the apartment to talk to residents but entered
uninvited when their knock was not answered and they grew fearful that
evidence was being destroyed, according to court documents.

In an open closet, they saw a plastic bag with cocaine in it. Brown
and Garner were arrested, and the officers got a search warrant.
Eventually, 40 kilograms of cocaine was found in the apartment, along
with $82,649 in cash and a loaded .22-caliber revolver.

Brown now sits in prison on a drug conspiracy charge; Garner is there
for concealing a felony.

Holmes is in prison on cocaine trafficking charges, as is
Cain.

Prosecutors are preparing their cases against the four new defendants.
Block by block.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady