Milwaukee Man, Woman Facing Felony Drug Charges after Shorewood Police Drug Bust

A Milwaukee man and woman were charged last week with felony drug possession after Shorewood police say they observed and stopped an illegal prescription drug deal in progress, recovering more than 250 prescription pills.

Theresa Findley, 32, from Milwaukee, was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on June 21, after she allegedly attempted to sell the prescription drug Xanax to 44-year-old Ronald Bell in mid-May. Bell was charged the same day with possession of Oxycodone, according to a criminal complaint.

Shorewood detective Gary Lenda was staking out Family Pharmacy, 3512 N. Oakland Ave., on May 17. In a criminal complaint, he says he saw Findley and her brother Jason Findley walk in and out of the pharmacy several times until a red Dodge Durango stopped in the parking lot and Theresa Findley ran to the driver’s side door. Lenda say he saw Bell extend his hand and complete a hand-to-hand transaction.

Bell handed Findley $30 to purchase prescription pills, according to the criminal complaint.

Findley ran back into the pharmacy and the Durango drove and parked in an adjacent parking lot at 3501 N. Oakland Ave. Findley exited the pharmacy again and walked over to and entered Bell’s vehicle.

Lenda drove over to the parking lot without his lights on, and went and stood next to the car. Bell and Findley continued their transaction, not noticing the detective. He says he observed Findley counting pills in her hand and heard Bell say, "Give me at least 20," according to the criminal complaint.

Lenda then made his presence known and took Bell into custody shortly after. Police conducted a search of Bell’s Durango and found more than 250 pills. Police confiscated 124 Methadone pills, 5 Amphetamine pills, 92 Xanax pills and 41 Oxycodone pills. Bell later told police he had a prescription for all the prescription pills except for the Oxycodone. He said he purchased the Oxycodone pills "off the street" for $5 a pill, and uses them for his pain.

Findley's purse, which was found in the Durango, contained two prescription pill bottles containing Xanax and Oxycodone she had filled at Family Pharmacy, a suspected crack pipe, a syringe, burnt spoon and other drug paraphernalia, according to the criminal complaint.

When asked about the pills, Bell told police Findley previously stole some Methadone from him, and the pills were to pay him back.

Findley is also facing charges bail jumping and obstructing/restricting an officer after she gave Shorewood police the wrong spelling of her last name, to avoid finding out she has a warrant for her arrest, according to the criminal complaint.

Both are facing up to six years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $10,000 for felony drug charges.

Findley's next court hearing is scheduled for July 21 and Bell's initial court hearing is July 26.