Clinton Man Sentenced To Federal Prison On Cocaine Charge
MADISON, Wis. - Jack Riley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jose Espinoza, 30, Clinton, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, to 78 months in prison for attempting to possess more than five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute it. This prison term will be followed by four years of supervised release. Espinoza pleaded guilty to this charge on October 17, 2012.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman who prosecuted the case, through a series of telephone calls between a cooperating individual and Espinoza, that took place over the weekend of July 21, 2012, it was agreed that they would meet on July 24, 2012, in order for Espinoza to purchase cocaine. An undercover officer went to the location where the sale was to take place and the cooperating individual introduced the officer to Espinoza as the source of the drugs. The undercover officer negotiated the sale of approximately five kilograms of cocaine to Espinoza, who indicated that he would pay for one kilogram of cocaine and purchase the remaining four kilograms subject to their quality. The undercover officer then showed Espinoza five kilograms of fake cocaine.
Espinoza left the area and returned a short time later with his brother, Johnny Espinoza, at which time he showed the officer approximately $23,000. Espinoza and his brother were then arrested. Johnny Espinoza, 31, also of Clinton, was indicted on this charge on August 1, 2012 and is scheduled to go to trial in May 2013.
The charges against Espinoza were the result of an investigation 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.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
