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Press Release

Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Larry Dotson, 41, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to five years in prison for attempted distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.  Dotson pleaded guilty to this charge on November 1, 2022. 

The government’s investigation revealed that Dotson purchased large amounts of cocaine from co-defendant Winfield Agee between 2018 and 2020.  Dotson either drove to Chicago to pick up the cocaine or received it from one of Agee’s drug couriers in the Madison area.

On November 25, 2020, officers stopped a vehicle in Madison after the driver was seen meeting with Agee earlier that day in Chicago.  Officers searched the vehicle and found one kilogram of cocaine.  The subsequent investigation, including text messages between the driver and Dotson, revealed that the driver planned to deliver the cocaine to Dotson.

On January 12, 2022, officers went to an apartment building located at 2824 Landmark Place in Madison to arrest Dotson.  When officers arrived, they observed Dotson in the parking lot transferring items from the trunk of one car to the trunk of another car.  As officers approached Dotson, he pulled an item out of his pocket and threw it under a parked vehicle.  Officers searched under the car and located approximately two grams of cocaine.  During a search of Dotson’s vehicle, officers found $22,000.  Officers also found $3,560 in Dotson’s coat pocket.  As part of his plea agreement in the case, Dotson agreed to forfeit the seized cash to the United States because it was proceeds from drug trafficking.

After Dotson was arrested, officers executed a search warrant of his apartment at 2824 Landmark Place.  During the search, officers found 79 grams of powder cocaine, 163 grams of crack cocaine, and 11 grams of methamphetamine.

A total of eight individuals have been charged with and pleaded guilty to participating in the cocaine distribution scheme.  Agee’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

The charge against Dotson is the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Madison Police Department, and the Dane County Narcotics Task Force.  The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.  The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.

Updated May 31, 2023

Topic
Drug Trafficking