Mexican national sentenced in Wisconsin to 20 years in prison for distributing cocaine

MADISON, Wis. – A Mexican national who was living in Beloit, Wis. was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for distributing cocaine.

This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the following agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, Stateline Area Narcotics Team, Rock County (Wis.) Sheriff's Department, Illinois State Police, Beloit (Wis.) Police Department, and the Rockford (Ill.) Police Department.

Emeterio Velazquez, 51, was sentenced Sept. 25 by U.S. District Judge Crabb in the Western District of Wisconsin to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, and for distributing cocaine. Velazquez pleaded guilty to these charges June 14.

After he completes his prison sentence, Velasquez will be turned over to ICE for deportation. Velazquez’s wife, Rosalina Velazquez, was sentenced last week to nine years in federal prison for the same offense.

Velazquez’s criminal conduct involved 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine; Rosalina Velazquez’s criminal conduct involved 15 to 50 kilograms of cocaine. Velazquez also received sentencing enhancements for possessing 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman, Western District of Wisconsin, prosecuted this case.