Chicago Man Sentenced for Possession of Crack Cocaine
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 18, 2012 |
MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Calvin T. Balentine, 29, Chicago, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to five years in prison for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Balentine pleaded guilty to this charge on November 16, 2011.
On August 1, 2011, inspectors from the Wisconsin State Patrol pulled over a van suspected of delivering drugs from Chicago to Madison. During a search of the van, officers found 25 grams of crack cocaine. A female occupant stated that the crack cocaine belonged to Balentine. Specifically, she stated that Balentine asked her to hold the crack cocaine on their way back from Chicago.
On August 3, 2011, during a court-authorized wiretap, law enforcement agents intercepted a telephone call from Balentine to another co-conspirator discussing arrangements to make up for the crack cocaine lost during the traffic stop.
The charges against Balentine were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin State Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Rock County Safe Streets Task Force. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.