Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 54 Months for Distributing Marijuana

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Luis Castillo-Madrigal, 35, a Mexican citizen living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced on Friday, July 19, by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to 54 months in prison for conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana. Castillo-Madrigal pleaded guilty to this charge on May 15, 2013. Judge Crabb did not impose a term of supervised release to follow the prison term due to the likelihood that Castillo-Madrigal will be deported following his incarceration.

Castillo-Madrigal conspired with Emeterio Velazquez, Rosalina Velazquez, Omar Velazquez, Nicolas Covarrubias, and Ruperto Ruiz to sell marijuana and cocaine in the Beloit and Rockford areas. Castillo-Madrigal assisted Emeterio Velazquez in picking up drugs and redistributing them. He also threatened people who owed the organization money and was sent to collect property from customers when drug debts were not paid.

Castillo-Madrigal is the third defendant in this conspiracy to be sentenced. Omar Velazquez and Nicolas Covarrubias were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Emeterio Velazquez, Rosalina Velazquez, and Ruperto Ruiz have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Emeterio and Rosalina Velazquez are married, and Omar Velazquez is their son.

The charges against Castillo-Madrigal were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Beloit Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Stateline Area Narcotics Team; Rockford Police Department; FBI Safe Streets Task Force; Rock County Sheriff’s Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Illinois State Police. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Altman and David Reinhard, and United States Attorney Vaudreuil.