Pewaukee Man Accused of Leading Crime Ring, Homicide

A 40-year-old Pewaukee man is accused of homicide and other serious federal crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Kevin R. Arms, 40, was the only Waukesha County resident among the 27 people who have been federally indicted in the conspiracy case, according to the news release.

Arms was the leader of the group, according to WISN 12 News. Authorities are seeking the death penalty in the prosecution against him, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Also indicted for causing death by a firearm were John Bailey, 37,  and Phillip Moffett, 32, both of Milwaukee. They have not yet been convicted.

Arms and Bailey were co-defendants in an armed robbery case in the late 1990s. Arms was convicted of first-degree recklessly causing injury and felon being in possession of a firearm. Bailey was convicted of first-degree recklessly causing injury and first degree recklessly endangering safety. The armed robbery charge and other charges were dropped in that case.

Law enforcement officers arrested 18 of the suspects on Wednesday, including Arms and five others with the same last name.  Three other individuals were previously indicted, leaving law enforcement looking for the final six defendants from Milwaukee: Trevan Brown, John Cleveland, Ronnie Reid, Demerius Scholar, Sam Spears, and Roger Walker.

The drug charges accuse the individuals being involved in the trafficking of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, according to the news release, as well as money laundering, weapons violations and homicide. Authorities found 31 firearms and $146,000 in cash while executing eight search warrants, according to the news release.

However, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting an in-depth list of items recovered in the investigation, including vehicles and a $3 million money judgment.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Waukesha Metro Drug Unit, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department assisted with Wednesday’s arrests following a multi-year investigation.