United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MADISON, Wis. – Brian M. McKnight, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration's Chicago Field Division, and Scott C. Blader, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Adan Ayala, 46, of Olivehurst, California, pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 13 years in federal prison for attempting to distribute methamphetamine.

On April 20, 2018, law enforcement agents in Madison, Wisconsin, intercepted a package of methamphetamine that was intended for a local distributor. The package contained three one-pound packages of methamphetamine that were vacuum-sealed and concealed in a bucket. The methamphetamine was almost 100% pure and totaled approximately 1,286 grams. Based on intercepted communications, agents learned that Ayala was hoping to begin regularly supplying large quantities of methamphetamine to the Madison area. This shipment was his first attempt.

In addition to other convictions, Ayala was convicted in 2004 for conspiring to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and spent five years in prison before he was released on supervision. He violated his conditions of release by again selling methamphetamine. As a result, his supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to an additional 33 months in prison. He most recently was released in 2016.   

During sentencing, Judge Peterson remarked on Ayala’s persistent drug dealing behavior despite his earning a significant income as a long-haul truck driver after his 2016 release from prison. Judge Peterson agreed with the Assistant U.S. Attorney that at 46 years old, it is expected that criminal behavior begins to abate, but in Ayala’s case, his drug-dealing behavior only escalated.

The charge against Ayala was the result of an investigation conducted by the DEA in Wisconsin and California, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Colusa County (California) Task Force, and Folsom (California) Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Schlipper. 

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