Milwaukee McDonald's owner charged with drug trafficking

The owner of three Milwaukee-area McDonald's used the restaurants to fund a marijuana trafficking operation and launder money from the operation, officials say. Edward G. Patterson is charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, money laundering and possession with intent to deliver, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday. The indictment also named five other defendants, which accuses them of obtaining large amounts of marijuana from California to distribute in the Milwaukee area. The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration office in Chicago said all but one of the defendants was arrested Wednesday morning. Some 15 search warrants were executed in connection with the arrests, authorities said. Several pounds of marijuana were recovered, along with 11 firearms and about $90,000 in cash.