Marco Cota-Tamaura, a 44-year-old inmate from Oxford, Wisconsin, was sentenced to an additional year and one day in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine while incarcerated. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley handed down the sentence after Cota-Tamaura pleaded guilty on December 2, 2024.
The incident occurred on March 22, 2024, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wisconsin. Cota-Tamaura tested positive for methamphetamine during a routine drug test, leading to the discovery of the substance in his possession. Methamphetamine is strictly prohibited within federal prison facilities.
Judge Conley emphasized his disappointment with Cota-Tamaura's actions, particularly because he had previously achieved a reduced security level at FCI Oxford. The judge highlighted that possessing methamphetamine posed significant risks to both inmates and guards and warranted extending Cota-Tamaura’s sentence by an additional year.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted the case.
