Clinton Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Aiding and Abetting Cocaine Deal

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Johnny Espinoza, 32, of Clinton, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 60 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting his brother, Jose Espinoza, 31, also of Clinton, in the attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Johnny Espinoza was convicted of this charge following a one-day jury trial on September 10, 2013, in federal court in Madison. Jose Espinoza pleaded guilty on October 17, 2012, to attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison on December 18, 2012.

According to the evidence presented at the trial, on July 24, 2012, Jose Espinoza met with an undercover officer and a confidential source in Beloit, Wisconsin to arrange to purchase five kilograms of cocaine. At this meeting, Jose Espinoza revealed that he could initially only come up with $24,000 for one kilogram of cocaine. After he viewed what he believed was five kilograms of cocaine, he left Beloit to gather the money. Later that day, he met with his brother, Johnny Espinoza, and together they met the undercover officer and displayed the $24,000 that Johnny Espinoza had brought with him.

The charges against Jose and Johnny Espinoza are the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; State Line Area Narcotics Team; and Safe Streets Task Force, which consists of the Beloit Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie S. Pfluger and Robert A. Anderson.