Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 25, 2013 |
MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Emeterio Velazquez, 51, a citizen of Mexico who was living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Crabb to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. Velazquez pleaded guilty to this charge on June 14, 2013.
His prison term will be followed by five years of supervised release if he is not deported. Velazquez’s wife, Rosalina Velazquez, was sentenced last week to nine years in federal prison for the same offense.
Emeterio Velazquez’s conduct involved 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine, while Rosalina Velazquez’s conduct involved 15 to 50 kilograms of cocaine. Emeterio Velazquez also received sentencing enhancements for possession of a gun, making threats of violence to a drug customer, and being a leader of the drug trafficking organization.
In addition to Emeterio and Rosalina Velazquez, four others in this conspiracy have been charged and convicted. Omar Velazquez, Emeterio and Rosalina’s son, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Nicolas Covarrubias was also sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jose Luis Castillo-Madrigal was sentenced to 54 months in prison, and Ruperto Ruiz is awaiting sentencing. In a related case, Jose and Johnny Espinoza were convicted of attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; Jose Espinoza was sentenced to 78 months in prison, while Johnny Espinoza is awaiting sentencing.
The charges against this organization 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.