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Two standout Brookfield Central athletes charged with selling drugs

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BROOKFIELD — Two standout Brookfield Central High School senior athletes recently were charged with selling drugs.

Gage Malensek, 18, and Julian Banda, 17, both of Brookfield, were charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court following undercover operations by the Waukesha County Metro Drug Unit.

Malensek, who had signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for Truman State University in Missouri, is scheduled to appear in court April 1.

He was charged with four counts of manufacturing or delivering THC, one count as a party to a crime, one count of maintaining a drug trafficking place, two counts of possession of THC and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The four-year varsity player, who has been removed from the team, pleaded not guilty March 1 and signed a $7,500 signature bond.

Banda, who led the Greater Metro Conference in receiving yards in 2018 for the Division 2 state runner-up Central football team, was charged with manufacturing or delivering marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place. His next court date was unknown as of Monday.

When confronted by police, the athletes admitted to arranging or conducting drug deals, according to the criminal complaint.

Malensek told a detective he sold marijuana and marijuana wax.

Banda said he sold leaf marijuana and vape cartridges once, at Malensek's request, but was not a dealer. Banda said he received free marijuana wax to smoke or vape from Malensek after helping him out.

Investigators arranged four drug deals in Brookfield through confidential informants, according to the criminal complaint.

Informants reportedly met with and bought marijuana from either Malensek or Banda at a plaza in the 2000 block of North Calhoun Road, a gas station and at Banda's home.

Police later searched Malensek's home in the 14000 block of Providence Lane, according to a search warrant affidavit. Investigators also met with and searched Malensek at the high school.

The searches revealed various quantities of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to the criminal complaint.