West Allis man accused of using threats to get people of color to move away

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A West Allis man has been charged with using force and threatening to use force to injure, intimidate and interfere with the housing rights of various persons because of their race, color or national origin.

The announcement of the charges against William McDonald, 54, came from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s civil rights division and U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Law enforcement has been investigating a series of racially motivated incidents involving property damage and threats against people who were told they could suffer bodily harm if they didn’t move out of West Allis, according to the complaint. The complaint alleges that McDonald violated federal law.

This case was investigated by the FBI Milwaukee Field Division and the West Allis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Kovoor and Christopher Ladwig for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, in collaboration with Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney for the Justice Department’s civil rights division, criminal section.