Arcadia, WI – A Wisconsin cocaine operation funneling drugs and guns between the Midwest and Puerto Rico has landed two more players in federal prison. Cristian Andre Vazquez Velez, 23, of Independence, Wisconsin, received a stiff 96 months behind bars, while Michael Carmenatty Justiniano, 41, of Galesville, Wisconsin, will serve 36 months. Both were sentenced December 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley.
The investigation, which began in August 2020, revealed a sophisticated network operating out of barbershops and taverns in Arcadia. Authorities learned that Vazquez, Carmenatty, along with Mark Castro and Karlett Salazar, were receiving half-kilogram shipments of cocaine from a source in Puerto Rico. The drugs were cunningly concealed within everyday items – radios, printers, even bedsheets – shipped via U.S. Mail. In a twisted exchange, the Wisconsin crew allegedly paid for the cocaine with firearms, sending Glock semi-automatic handguns back to their supplier on the island.
The postal trail proved crucial. On May 5, 2021, agents with the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) intercepted a package from Puerto Rico bound for a Winona, Minnesota address linked to the group. Inside, they found 557 grams of cocaine hidden inside a Bluetooth speaker. A month later, on June 29, 2021, a package shipped from Independence, Wisconsin, to Puerto Rico revealed two loaded Glock handguns. Then, on July 13, 2021, another shipment arrived in Independence, Wisconsin, containing 506 grams of cocaine. A controlled delivery on July 14 led to the arrests of Salazar and Vazquez.
Post-arrest interviews quickly unraveled the conspiracy, with Salazar, Vazquez, and Castro all admitting their involvement, and implicating Carmenatty. This isn’t their first victory. Mark Castro was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison on October 20, 2022, facing the same charges: conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Karlett Salazar received a 60-month sentence on April 21, 2022, for her role in the scheme. Vazquez pleaded guilty on August 30, 2022, and Carmenatty on August 16, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin emphasized the collaborative effort that brought down the operation. “This case illustrates how partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement play an important role in keeping communities safe,” he stated. Andre Martin, Special Agent-in-Charge of the USPS-OIG Central Area Field Office, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the agency’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service. The investigation involved a multi-agency task force including the USPS-OIG, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Winona County, Minnesota agencies.
The case serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking networks often extend far beyond state lines, utilizing seemingly innocuous methods – in this case, the U.S. Mail – to move illicit goods and fund criminal activity. The ATF, along with its partners, will continue to pursue these operations, disrupting the flow of drugs and weapons and bringing those responsible to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Derrick Russell Hoff, Gun and Meth Trafficking, Wisconsin 2023 · Wisconsin
- Victor Pennington, Meth Trafficking, Wisconsin 2024 · Wisconsin
- Bradly Rosenthal, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Wisconsin 2024 · Wisconsin
- Jason Barnard, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Wisconsin 2025 · Alabama
- Jason Barnard, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Wisconsin 2024 · Illinois
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News