Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Madison, Wis. - John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jorge Gamez-Nieto, 41, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a mandatory minimum ten-year term of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possessing a loaded handgun in furtherance of that offense. Gamez-Nieto pleaded guilty to these charges on May 15, 2014.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Gamez-Nieto’s residence in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin on January 8, 2014. Gamez-Nieto was asleep at the time, with a loaded handgun under his pillow. United States currency was located throughout the bedroom, as well as drug ledgers and a small amount of cocaine. In other areas of the residence officers located 3 long guns, 794 grams of cocaine, baggies, a heat sealer, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and additional currency. The total amount of U.S. currency seized was $10,524.00.

Additionally, Gamez-Nieto had surveillance cameras both on the interior and exterior of his home, which led Judge Conley to observe that Gamez-Nieto’s drug business was sophisticated.

Gamez-Nieto will be deported upon completion of his sentence. Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the government dismissed an illegal re-entry count, as well an illegal alien in possession of firearms count.

The charges against Gamez-Nieto were the result of an investigation conducted by the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, the Fort Atkinson Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

# # # #