Illinois Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing Cocaine

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nicolas Covarrubias, 43, Rockford, Illinois, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to 10 years in prison for conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. Covarrubias pleaded guilty to this charge on December 27, 2012.

On May 21, 2012, officers searched Covarrubias’ ranch in Rockford and found $722,016, a money counting machine, several handguns, and wrappers from kilograms of cocaine. The money was forfeited to law enforcement agencies who have been working on the case.

The court found the defendant was responsible for 15 to 50 kilograms of cocaine during the time he was involved in the conspiracy. The court also held the defendant responsible for the guns that were found at his residence.

Other people charged in the conspiracy along with Covarrubias were Omar Velazquez, Emeterio Velazquez, Rosalina Velazquez, Ruperto Ruiz, and Jose Castillo-Madrigal. Omar Velazquez also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The other defendants are set for trial on July 29, 2013.

The charges against Covarrubias 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. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.