News

Police bust citywide cocaine ring

Six people, including a former University of Wisconsin football player, were arrested in one of Dane County's largest cocaine busts, according to an announcement by the United States District Court of Western Wisconsin Thursday.

The bust, part of a three-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, secured approximately six kilos of cocaine, $20,000 in cash and three firearms, according to the Capital Times.

The cocaine is estimated to have a street value of $600,000. Large amounts of cutting agents used to mix with pure cocaine were also found during the raid.

During the Police and Fire Commission press conference on Thursday, newly appointed Chief Noble Wray spoke of the bust. Wray expressed concern over drug possession and distribution in Madison as well as his support for tackling similar growing drug distributions.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency website, cocaine is readily available in multi-kilogram quantities in both Madison and Milwaukee.

Marvin Artley, a former UW football player from 1985-1988, was charged with distributing cocaine. Artley has previous charges of possession of cocaine and THC. Artley has also been charged with aggravated battery and second-degree recklessly endangering safety when he pistol-whipped a UW student on Johnson Street Sept. 1.

Liborio P. Morales, 30, was charged with possession of cocaine and intent to deliver. Altwan D. Cross, 34, was also charged with possession of cocaine and intent to deliver after police found a kilogram of cocaine in his residence, according to the Capital Times.

Cross was found not guilty of attempted first degree murder during a shooting at Stillwaters bar on State Street in April 2004. He was also charged with disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer and criminal damage to property in April 2004.

Jesus "Papa" Rodriguez, 48, and Montrell Savage, 29, were charged with possession of cocaine and the intent to deliver, according to the Capital Times. Both are from Madison.

Jerry McCoy, 36, of Verona was also charged with distributing cocaine. The men arrested were not all working together, according to the Capital Times.

The cocaine busts occurred in homes on East Broadway and Randolph Drive in Madison and also on Anton Drive in Fitchburg, according to NBC 15.