Source: United States Department of Justice News
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jimmy Castillo, 24, Topeka, Kansas, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On February 19, 2022, based on information received during the course of a drug investigation, police officers approached Castillo as he exited a hotel in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Castillo was wearing a grey backpack at the time. After detaining Castillo and removing his backpack, officers asked him if he had anything illegal on him. Castillo looked at the backpack. After a drug dog indicated the presence of drugs, officers searched the backpack and found approximately 15.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley stated that Castillo possessed a “massive” amount of methamphetamine and its delivery into the community would have caused major ripple effects. Judge Conley noted that Castillo admitted to officers that he had transported methamphetamine on two occasions prior to his arrest. Judge Conley also noted it was a mitigating factor that Castillo had no prior criminal history.
The charge against Castillo is the result of a joint investigation by the La Crosse Police Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, Onalaska Police Department, and the Town of Campbell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner prosecuted this case.