Mexican national sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing cocaine in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. — A previously deported Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison on cocaine and gun charges, announced John W. Vaudreuil, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, the Fort Atkinson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Jorge Gamez-Nieto, 41, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possessing a loaded handgun in furtherance of that offense. Gamez-Nieto pleaded guilty to these charges May 15.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Gamez-Nieto’s residence Jan. 8. Gamez-Nieto was asleep at the time with a loaded handgun under his pillow. Authorities encountered large amounts of cash located throughout the bedroom, as well as drug ledgers and a small amount of cocaine. In other areas of the residence, officers located three long guns, 794 grams of cocaine, baggies, a heat sealer, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and additional currency. The total amount of U.S. currency seized was $10,524.

Additionally, Gamez-Nieto had surveillance cameras both on the interior and exterior of his home, which led Judge Conley to observe that Gamez-Nieto’s drug business was sophisticated.

Gamez-Nieto will be deported upon completion of his sentence. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the government dismissed one count of illegal re-entry after deportation and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow, Western District of Wisconsin, is prosecuting the case.