Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jul 2001 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2001 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265 Author: David Doege, Journal Sentinel staff PROTECTIVE ORDER OK'D IN DRUG CASE Fearing that witnesses' lives may be on the line during the prosecution of an alleged drug kingpin from Chicago in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, authorities are obtaining court orders limiting the disclosure of names and other identifying information of witnesses in the case. Circuit Judge Richard J. Sankovitz, who is presiding over the case of Kenneth L. Green and his co-defendants in what is alleged to be a massive marijuana distribution ring, was told that figures in the conspiracy have "been threatened and shot" because of what they know, according to court records. In his motion for a "protective order" limiting the disclosure and dissemination of information in the case, Assistant District Attorney John Chisholm said investigators have information "that Kenneth Green had orchestrated those actions because they had either talked to police or had been talking too much in the community about his criminal enterprise." "Other members of Kenneth Green's criminal enterprise have admitted to law enforcement that they have attempted to shoot individuals in connection with the drug distribution enterprise," Chisholm wrote later in his motion. "Witnesses in the above entitled matters have expressed concern to law enforcement officials relating to the disclosure of their names, addresses and other identifying information which would subject them to potential retribution and/or intimidation should their identities be known." One prosecution witness has learned that Green is attempting to locate his whereabouts, and that "a $10,000 bounty has been placed on his life to any person that could guarantee or prevent him from testifying," Chisholm wrote. Finally, according to Chisholm, "numerous" co-defendants "have indicated that they are unwilling to cooperate in a trial due to their concerns and beliefs that members of Kenneth Green's organization would harm them or their families should they choose to testify at trial." Green, 37, is awaiting trial in the County Jail in lieu of $10 million bail, an amount never before ordered in a Milwaukee County Circuit Court case. Green, who has been charged with eight counts, including a rarely used state racketeering charge, is believed by authorities to head a ring responsible for the distribution of tens of thousands of pounds of marijuana a year in Milwaukee. The ring also is alleged to have distributed occasional kilograms of cocaine when the marijuana market was lean. Ten other people have been charged in the case, which began with a secret probe 16 months ago. The protective order signed by Sankovitz allows prosecutors to redact identifying information from some police reports shared with defense attorneys if it is believed someone's life may be in danger. The order also prohibits defense attorneys from disseminating some police reports and case preparation materials to their clients. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager