The 20th person involved in a multi-city distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine has entered a guilty plea in federal court.
The U.S. Attorney for Western Wisconsin, Scott Blader, announced 37-year-old Marcos Casteneda of Pomona, California entered the plea in court Thursday. Castaneda pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth, with the conspiracy topping 500 grams. The operation lasted from June of 2013 to May of 2016.
Blader says during that time, the meth was brought into this area from Minnesota.
In all, more than 127 pounds were distributed by members of the conspiracy. Street value of the drugs was nearly $6 million.
The drugs were obtained from a Mexican cartel.
Among the 20 people, residents from Merrill, Athens, Wausau, Osseo and Minnesota were involved. All have been given multi-year prison sentences. Blader says Castaneda could face up to life in prison. Federal, state and local law enforcement, including the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, were involved.
