Marcus Catchings, Cocaine Possession, Wisconsin 2021

Chicago Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Cocaine Possession in Wisconsin

A Chicago man has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a large quantity of cocaine with the intent to distribute in Wisconsin. Marcus Catchings, 43, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley in Madison, Wisconsin.

On April 9, 2021, a Wisconsin Dells police officer pulled over a black Lexus SUV for excessively dark window tint. Catchings was the passenger in the Lexus and his wife was driving. A positive K-9 alert led officers to search the vehicle and find a grocery bag containing approximately 381 grams of cocaine behind the driver’s seat, and a cereal box containing approximately 533 grams of cocaine in the same area.

During his plea hearing in September, Catchings admitted that he intended to distribute the 914 grams of cocaine in the Wisconsin Dells area. Catchings pleaded guilty to this charge on September 14, 2021.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley noted that Catchings had previously been convicted of murder and had served over 20 years in prison as a result. Catchings was released from prison for the murder conviction in 2019 and was on parole at the time of his arrest.

The charge against Catchings was a result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner handled the prosecution.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant Name - Marcus Catchings, Exact Criminal Charges - Possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, City and State - Wisconsin Dells, WI, Exact Date - April 9, 2021, Sentence or Outcome - 5 years in prison, No dollar amounts were mentioned in the source.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/chicago-man-sentenced-5-years-cocaine-charge