Two Wild 100s Gang Members Convicted of Murder for Hire Resulting in Death

Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Ronnell Bowman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Houston, Texas, and Lawrence Turner, of Milwaukee, were convicted yesterday after a week-long jury trial. Both Bowman and Turner were convicted of murder for hire resulting in death, 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.

At trial, the evidence showed that between March 15, 2021, and April 5, 2021, Bowman and Turner, both members of the Wild 100s gang arranged the murder of N.B. in exchange for Bowman's offer to pay $10,000. Turner and another gang member, who has already plead guilty to the April 5, 2021, murder of N.B. who suffered more than two dozen gunshot wounds. The evidence showed that Bowman and Turner targeted N.B. and murdered him, because of his believed association with a rival of the Wild 100s gang. Both men face mandatory life imprisonment. Bowman and Turner also were convicted of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, namely, the murder for hire. That count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.

Trial evidence further showed that Bowman agreed with others to violate federal firearms laws including possession of machineguns, the transfer of firearms to felons, and the possession of firearms by felons. Bowman also attempted to intimidate, threaten or corruptly persuade witnesses and conspired with others to attempt to obstruct justice and impede the jury trial in this case. The conspiracy to commit violations of federal firearms laws carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and the witness tampering counts each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Before trial, both Bowman and Turner pled guilty to participating in a mail fraud conspiracy to defraud the Department of Labor through the submission of false and fraudulent applications for benefits under programs such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and other unemployment insurance programs. In total, Bowman, Turner and their other conspirators wrongfully obtained millions of federal dollars through their fraudulent activities and used the funds to purchase, among other things, firearms, controlled substances, jewelry, and vacations, and to solicit murder for hire.

"Our community will now be free from the terror inflicted by these violent gang members, and N.B.'s loved ones will finally get the justice for which they have been waiting for years," said United States Attorney Schimel. "The senseless violence perpetrated by this gang was financed in large part by truly shocking fraud in which these defendants and their fellow gang members stole millions of dollars from a COVID-era benefits program. The convictions in this case were made possible by the very strong collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement partners. I have been stunned since my appointment as U.S. Attorney at the extraordinary amount fraud committed against the hard-working taxpayers of this nation that has been uncovered by our law enforcement team. Taking down violent offenders and fraudsters will continue to be our top priorities."

"The FBI is committed to aggressively investigating and dismantling violent criminal gangs. Based on evidence presented at trial, Ronnell Bowman and Lawrence Turner were involved in a murder-for-hire scheme in 2021 that resulted in a man's death. Bowman and Turner were members of the Wild 100s, a violent Milwaukee street gang that used millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained COVID relief funds to support purchasing guns and drugs," said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. "The FBI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to destroy the ability of violent gangs to operate in our communities."

"This case exposed the extreme violence and lawlessness behind this gang's actions," said Joseph Persails, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. "These defendants arranged a murder-for-hire, trafficked firearms, possessed machineguns, and attempted to intimidate witnesses to escape justice. I'm proud of the work by ATF special agents and our law enforcement partners who followed the evidence and ensured those responsible were held accountable."

"These convictions are another step closer to making our community safer for everyone to live, work and play," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. "I am proud of all the hard work of everyone involved in holding these violent individuals accountable."

These defendants were charged based on a joint and collaborative investigation by law enforcement officers from FBI, ATF, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), and Department of Labor-OIG, and prosecutors from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and the United States Attorney's Office. This case was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Kwaterski and Michael Schindhelm.

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