Madison, Wis. - John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Francisco Uresti, 35, Winnebago, Ill., was sentenced on Friday, May 27, by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 20 years in prison, without the possibility of parole, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and distributing cocaine. Uresti pleaded guilty to this charge on February 8, 2011.

Uresti was the leader of a cocaine conspiracy that was responsible for distributing between 3.5 and 5 kilograms of cocaine in the Rockford and southern Wisconsin area from October 2008 to April 2009. Judge Crabb chose a 20-year sentence because Uresti possessed several firearms in connection with the offense, he maintained a drug house in Rockford, and he fled to Texas after learning he was under indictment. Uresti also has a prior federal felony drug conviction, as well as a state court conviction for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Uresti is a Mexican national who is in the United States illegally, therefore he will be deported after service of his sentence.

The charge against Uresti was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison and Rockford offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Janesville Police Department; and Vernon County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

 

 

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