Three Western Kenosha County Siblings Charged In Federal Court With Machine Guns, Explosives, and Drugs

Copied!
Explosives Found During Search Warrant
(US Attorney’s Office)

After an eight-month investigation, three siblings have been charged with several federal crimes involving fully-automatic machine guns, explosives, and drugs. Melissa Simmons (born 1975) of Wheatland, and her two brothers, James Rukstales (36) of Paddock Lake and Erik Rukstales (32) of Wheatland were all charged on March 13, 2023. The indictments were unsealed in the United States Eastern District of Wisconsin on or about April 6, 2023.

Paid Advertisement
James Rukstales (Kenosha Sheriff)
Erik Rukstales (Kenosha Sheriff)

Melissa Simmons
(Facebook)

According to the federal indictment that was recently unsealed, the case started with a confidential informant that met with Kenosha Police in July of 2022. The CI reported that Melissa Simmons, who does cocaine and meth, was observed with explosives and pounds of marijuana. She also makes marijuana butter. Simmons demonstrated one of the explosives at a party the CI was at that made a loud boom and sent debris flying into the air. The CI learned that Simmons sells all of theses items. Simons explained that the explosives were made at James’ house in Paddock Lake. The CI has pending cases against him or her and is expecting to get a deal out of testifying in this case.

Paid Advertisement

The CI made a controlled by of a quarter pound of marijuana and 10 explosive devices. Law enforcement set up video surveillance and the CI had a camera and audio recording device. The CI bought the explosives for $17/each and the 4 ounces of pot for $550. The CI left the house and gave the contraband to ATF agents. They tested positive for explosives. Police also got a warrant to place a GPS on one or more of the siblings’ cars. Simmons told the CI that they had plans to sell flash-bangs too but it made people nervous about the cops finding out.

Paid Advertisement

On March 8, 2023 federal agents and local law enforcement agents conducted three search warrants in Wheatland and Paddock Lake. Agents found:

Paid Advertisement

Dozens of Guns
Gun(s) with no serial numbers
Machine Guns
17.5 Pounds of Marijuana
Explosive Device Components and Tools
Hundreds of Explosives

Paid Advertisement

The three are facing many years in federal prison. They were all released on with a cashless bail.

Paid Advertisement

Below Photos Courtesy U.S. Attorney:

Paid Advertisement

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS

Teen Avoids Adult Court After Bringing Loaded Gun to Indian Trail

Kenosha, Wis. — In a decision that’s raising eyebrows across the community, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman (D) on Friday rejected a request from prosecutors to waive 16-year-old Jaheem Wright into adult court, allowing the teen who brought a loaded gun to school and made threats to be sentenced in juvenile court instead. Wright, who terrified students and staff at Indian Trail High School in December, took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to

Read More »

Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency

Paddock Lake, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his or her personal cellphone to communicate with a student and is also believed to have given the student a ride

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Kenosha Cop Sues City, Claims Anti-Gay Discrimination Over Missed Promotion

Kenosha, Wis. — A longtime Kenosha police officer who was once accused—but never charged—of rape has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the city and its police chiefs passed him over for promotion because he is gay. Officer Pep Moretti, who has worked for the Kenosha Police Department since 2009, filed the Title VII discrimination lawsuit in late March against the City of Kenosha, former Chief Eric Larsen, and current Chief Patrick Patton. In his complaint, Moretti

Read More »

Wilmot High School Quiz on Trump Tariffs Draws Parental Criticism

Kenosha, Wis. — Some Wilmot Union High School parents are speaking out this week, accusing a 10th grade World History teacher of pushing a politically biased message in the classroom. The criticism centers on a quiz that students were given concerning the economic impacts of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies — a quiz many say unfairly portrays Trump in a negative light. The assignment, titled “The Consequences of Black Friday,” includes four questions directly targeting

Read More »

Kenosha Law Enforcement Agencies Diverge on Radio Dispatch Policy Changes

Kenosha, Wis. — A recent shift in radio dispatch protocols by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has sparked discussion among local law enforcement leaders, with the Kenosha Police Department opting not to follow suit. As of April 1, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a revised dispatch policy for non-emergency and low-priority calls. The change, outlined in a March 11 email by Captain Eric Klinkhammer, is aimed at enhancing privacy and reducing radio clutter while

Read More »

Convicted Child Predator Extradited to Kenosha for New Sexual Assault Charge

Kenosha, Wis. — A Racine County man already serving 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl was extradited to Kenosha County this week to face a new charge involving a different child victim. Seth C. Beining, 23, of Wilmot, is now charged in Kenosha County with first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13. According to the criminal complaint, Beining allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl in June 2022 while the two were

Read More »

Kenosha County Scanner Admin Harasses Young Woman for Sharing Post, Reigniting Concerns Over His Criminal Past

Kenosha, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha County woman says she is being harassed by a convicted serial arsonist after sharing one of his Facebook posts in a community thread. The man at the center of the controversy, 48-year-old Allen M. Dunski, Jr, co-manages the Kenosha County Scanner Facebook page with his partner John Broemelkamp. The page charges subscribers $4.99 per month to view posts, which often summarize local police and fire activity. Dunski has previously claimed—without

Read More »

Three Kenosha Police Officers Honored With Life Saving Awards After Reviving Unresponsive Man

Kenosha, Wis. — Three Kenosha Police Department officers were recognized Tuesday morning for their heroic actions that saved a man’s life during a critical medical emergency earlier this year. Officers Kyle Toppel, Charles Lyons, and Matthew Lovell were each presented with the department’s Life Saving Award during the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission meeting today. Their swift and coordinated response on February 15, 2025, helped resuscitate a 59-year-old man who was found unresponsive and not breathing

Read More »

High-Speed Chase Ends in Rollover Crash, Injuries and Felony Charges for Kenosha Man

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man with a lengthy criminal record is facing 14 new criminal charges, including multiple counts of reckless injury and endangerment, after he allegedly led police on a dangerous, high-speed chase through city streets Friday evening, causing a rollover crash that seriously injured at least two passengers. Joshua J. McCarthy, 38, appeared in court Monday afternoon where a court commissioner set his cash bail T $75,000. McCarthy is on a probation hold,

Read More »

Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Incident in Somers

Somers, Wis. — A Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy is under internal investigation after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting his wife during an alleged drunken domestic dispute at their home. According to law enforcement records obtained by Kenosha County Eye, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a Somers residence around 10:26 p.m. on April 4, 2025, for a welfare check. Deputies arrived to find what they determined to be a physical domestic

Read More »

Receptionist Resigned Amid Allegations of Attendance Record Tampering, District Records Show

Kenosha, Wis. — A receptionist at Indian Trail High School and Academy resigned last month while under investigation for improperly altering student attendance records, according to newly released internal documents from the Kenosha Unified School District. Danielle Nixon, who worked at the school’s front desk and had access to pupil databases, left her position on March 7, 2025, just days after being questioned about potentially unauthorized modifications to student absences. The district’s records, obtained by Kenosha

Read More »

Flag Protest Sparks Vandalism Probe in Kenosha Neighborhood — But No Charges Filed

Kenosha, Wis. — A neighborhood quarrel over a politically inverted American flag spiraled into a month-long police investigation in the St. Peter’s Park neighborhood — and ended with no arrests, no charges, and rising tensions between residents. The dispute began early on March 1, when a couple living on 22nd Street, just behind St. Peter’s Catholic Church on 30th Avenue, called police to report that both of their vehicles had been vandalized. Windshield wipers were bent

Read More »
Categories
Archives
Authors

22 Responses

  1. A bunch of trailer park white trash, nothing to see here.

    The real question is whether the sister has slept with one of her brothers or both?

    10
    10
    1. Actually there have been many psychiatric studies that have concluded that people who make assumptions or comments such as yours . Have either contemplated , fantasized or acted out on those same assumptions. In other words , it takes an unstable mentality to even make statements such as your own . So sad

    2. Anonymous says:
      April 11, 2023 – 9:39 PM at 9:39 PM
      Actually there have been many psychiatric studies that have concluded that people who make assumptions or comments such as yours . Have either contemplated , fantasized or acted out on those same assumptions. In other words , it takes an unstable mentality to even make statements such as your own . So sad

      3
      1
    1. They’re probably hiding under Uncle Dad’s porch. Disgusting, no need for that or them in society. Maybe they can do it like drugs where if somebody’s hand OD’s on an explosive device, they can charge the people who sold it to them with assault with a deadly weapon.

      0
      4
        1. A federal judge that got elected with Soros campaign money? Or just a federal judge that lives far enough away that they don’t personally feel endangered?

          5
          3
  2. They’re probably hiding under Uncle Dad’s porch. Disgusting, no need for that or them in society. Maybe they can do it like drugs where if somebody’s hand OD’s on an explosive device, they can charge the people who sold it to them with assault with a deadly weapon.

    1
    1

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS
Categories
Archives
Authors

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.