Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Omar Velazquez, 21, a citizen of Mexico who had been living in Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday 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. Velazquez pleaded guilty to this charge on December 5, 2012.

On April 11, 2012, Velazquez delivered a kilogram of cocaine to a confidential informant in Beloit. He also arranged for the informant to purchase two kilograms of cocaine on April 23, 2012.

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

Other people charged in the conspiracy along with Omar Velazquez are Emeterio Velazquez, Rosalina Velazquez, Ruperto Ruiz, Nicholas Covarrubias, and Jose Castillo-Madrigal. Emeterio Velazquez is scheduled to enter a plea on March 1, 2013. Covarrubias has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The other defendants are awaiting trial. No other dates have been set.

The charges against Velazquez 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.