Milwaukee City Wire

On December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Desmond L. Waukau, Jr., a 21-year-old member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, on charges of involuntary manslaughter and fleeing an officer resulting in death. The charges stem from a vehicle crash that occurred on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

The indictment includes two counts against Waukau. The first count is for involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112 and 1153(a), which carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The second count is for fleeing an officer resulting in death under 18 U.S.C. § 13(a) and Wis. Stat. §§ 346.04(3) and 346.17(3)(d), with penalties including a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 months, up to 25 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Court documents allege that on September 20, 2024, Waukau attempted to evade a marked police vehicle while on the Menominee Indian Reservation. During this attempt, he allegedly accelerated his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance, leading to a crash that resulted in the death of a passenger.

The investigation was conducted by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will handle the prosecution in Green Bay's United States District Court.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. "The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

For further information regarding this case, contact Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales at Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov or (414) 297-1700.