Two Milwaukee men with ties to the Wild 100s street gang have been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in a murder-for-hire plot financed with stolen COVID-19 unemployment relief money.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Ronnell Bowman, 31, and Lawrence Turner, 32, to life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder for hire, plus an additional 10 years for firearms convictions.
The sentencing came after Bowman and Turner were found guilty by a federal jury on March 4 of conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Bowman also was convicted of conspiracy to commit violations of federal firearms laws, attempted witness tampering and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
During the weeklong trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that showed Bowman and Turner arranged the 2021 killing of a man identified in court papers as “N.B.” in exchange for Bowman’s payments of $10,000 each to Turner and another Wild 100s gang member. The victim was ambushed and shot more than two dozen times in the yard of his grandparents’ home.
Before trial, Bowman and Turner — both members of the Wild 100s street gang — also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for submitting numerous fraudulent COVID‑19 unemployment insurance claims involving multiple states. Bowman was responsible for the theft of about $864,000 in benefits, while Turner stole about $203,000, prosecutors said.
Both were sentenced on fraud-related charges to prison sentences to run concurrently with their life sentences.
Bowman and Turner’s attorneys couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Bowman, Turner and 28 other co-conspirators wrongfully obtained more than $10 million in federal unemployment benefits, and reportedly used the money to buy firearms, drugs, jewelry and vacations – and to solicit murder for hire.
“The senseless violence perpetrated by this gang was financed in large part by millions of dollars of fraud from a COVID-era benefits program,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said in a news release. “These convictions were made possible by the very strong collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
He added, “Taking down violent offenders and fraudsters will continue to be among our top priorities.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee men sentenced to life for murder plot linked to $10M COVID scheme
Reporting by Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
