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February 20, 2013Madison, WI, United StatesNarcotics

Wisconsin man sentenced to 10 years in prison for cocaine conspiracy

MADISON, Wis. – A Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a local cocaine conspiracy.

The 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, 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;

Omar Velazquez, 21, of Janesville, Wis., was sentenced Feb. 20 by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb in the Western District of Wisconsin to 10 years in prison for conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and for distributing cocaine. Velazquez pleaded guilty to these charges Dec. 5. As an illegal alien from Mexico and a convicted aggravated felon, he also faces deportation after his release from prison.

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

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

The following five others were charged in this conspiracy: Emeterio Velazquez, Rosalina Velazquez, Ruperto Ruiz, Nicholas Covarrubias, and Jose Castillo-Madrigal. Emeterio Velazquez is scheduled to enter a plea March 1. Covarrubias has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The other defendants are awaiting trial.

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

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