Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Yelitzia Ortiz Chaparro and Emanuel Gonzalez, both from Madison, Wisconsin, have been sentenced for their involvement in drug trafficking activities. Ortiz Chaparro received a three-year federal prison sentence for distributing methamphetamine, while her husband Gonzalez was sentenced to eight years for possessing over 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Ortiz Chaparro admitted guilt on November 6, 2024, and Gonzalez pleaded guilty two days earlier. Their illegal activities spanned from November 2022 to February 2023, during which Ortiz Chaparro sold a total of 362 grams of cocaine to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. On March 17, 2023, the couple delivered one pound of methamphetamine to this source in Madison.
Further transactions involved Gonzalez selling cocaine twice in May 2024 to another confidential source totaling 198 grams. In June 2024, Ortiz Chaparro set up a deal over the phone with this second source for one pound of methamphetamine at $2,100. Gonzalez completed the delivery later that day.
On July 15, 2024, Gonzalez sold an additional two ounces (56 grams) of cocaine to the same source. A few days later on July 18th, agents executed a search warrant at their residence where they found nearly a kilogram of cocaine and a loaded handgun in an accessible location within their home.
Judge James D. Peterson emphasized the seriousness of Ortiz Chaparro's crimes due to the large quantities she distributed over time. He noted that although Gonzalez initially involved her in drug trafficking activities, she soon became actively engaged in selling drugs independently.
During Gonzalez's sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson highlighted his role in distributing significant amounts of illegal drugs before being caught by investigators and criticized him for keeping a loaded firearm near his young child alongside large quantities of cocaine.
The investigation leading to these charges was conducted by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from local law enforcement bodies such as the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and Madison Police Department. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force funded and coordinated this multi-agency effort under Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner's prosecution guidance.