10 face federal cocaine charges

hey baby08, check ur email

and gfan, i like how you define 'abuse'. that clarifies exactly what i was talkin about on those other stories. i may smoke pot every day, but based on your definition, i sure dont abuse it.

shutupandfish, most kids drink alcohol before they try pot. wouldnt that make alcohol the TRUE gateway drug?? or they try nicotine before alcohol. is that the gateway drug?? gateway drugs open the door to more and harder drugs. i wont deny that pot may be a 'gateway' drug, but you cant skip the first 2 gateways and blame the 3rd.

~just me~ i am very interested in knowing who you are please contact me ASAP ojitos_d_colores@yahoo.com

Just_me,
I did tell the owner of the establishment and all he said was that i had to prove it, well i was unable to go into the restroom where i believed this to be going on. Conspiracy yea right!!! I'm glad i no longer work at this place. When you can see this stuff happening and you say something alot of times it's just not taken seriously and now look what has happened, i'm glad someone did something about it.

valid points, shutupandfish...

maybe I am in the minority then, of not wanting a more intense buzz than what I get from pot or alcohol...

I used to smoke a lot of pot in my teenage years. I grew up and don't like to smoke it now. I had a lot of friends who were looking for a more intense high than pot had to offer. They would have never know what getting high was if they didn't try pot first. So yes it is a gateway drug. How many people do you know just pick up a crack pipe and smoke it for the first time? How many people try shooting up that have never gotten high on any other drugs before? Rare very rare.

Just_me...
.
The"Georgia Thompson" case was NOT a "mistake," or "human error."
It was a political vendetta that came back (and rightfully so) to bite the politico's in the ass.

A totally different story but point proven ... mistakes are made by human error... read the story...The Justice Department is investigating the prosecution of Georgia Thompson, a Wisconsin state employee wrongly imprisoned for corruption.

Well adriankoqueen, if u knew so much and had seen it going on for over 2 yrs, and did nothing, maybe u should be on the list of persons for "conspiracy".. and to others, most these guys were found with nothing.. some being held as they are illegal, some released. And baby08... thank u too... looks like u and I are the only ones that know what is going on... these cars and other things that supposely were taken.. funny I seen the crown victoria just yesterday... and baby08... if u want to know the most of the story contact me as these people can think what they want but I know most of the truth.

^50 to you!

Sassy I cannot commend you enough on all of the VALID points you make! You are RIGHT marijuana is NOT a gateway drug.. its people that are looking for more of a thrill that choose to use the other drugs.

and to clarify: I am a pot user, NOT a cocaine user. Using pot is not a gateway drug. The reason people think that is because of the apparent "thrill" of doing something illegal.

I have absolutely no desire in trying to find anything "better", nor do my friends.

^5 me Westside!

go sassy!!!!!

peechy, boy, oh boy...NO! I repeat, NO! I do not use pot around my kids. By the way, they are adults now. They never even knew I smoked pot until a year ago. And have never seen me use it. I have been stating all along that pot is an ADULT activity that should be able to be used responsibly by responsible adults. I don't sit around the living room and get my kids high and sing kum by ya, we don't wear beads or tie dyed shirts, burn incense or do any of the other STEREOTYPICAL things that people think about when they think about pot.

If you don't want to understand it, that's fine, but please don't criticize it if you don't know what you are talking about other than stereotypical "hogwash". By the way, I don't drive around after using and I have many professional friends and acquaintances with whom I share interests in this activity. Throw eggs at me or bad words if you'd like to, but like I said, don't knock it if you don't know what you are talking about.

Someone will miss it, and they will be pissed

"two in Janesville and three in Beloit—where they seized cocaine, guns, money, vehicles and other evidence of drug dealing."

THey Seized Cocaine. It was in one of the houses, But unlike the cars and other items, no one claimed the drugs or guns were theirs.

No drugs were found in anyones house... All it says is that they had the intent to deliver all that was taken from these ppls house was the cars tv and stereo, etc...

Im confused, If everyone arrested was innocent then whos drugs were taken by police. Someone is going to miss that stuff. And they won't be happy about it

Thanks ~Just_me~ You finally got some of these ppl to shut up about things... Some ppl just dont know that everything that you read is not exact even the newspapers sometimes dont have the whole story right... they are innocent till proven guilty in a court of law and in gods eyes... Hopefully everyone eats the words when they hear that the men that got caught were let out because they were innocent...

Well adriankoqueen
If you know something and you don't want them walking the streets you should let the folks involved with the invesitigation know.

I used to see a couple of these guys at a local bar in town, they have been selling the crap for longer that 2 years, they should have been put out of commission a long time ago. LOSERS LOSERS LOSERS i hope they get what coming to them all!!!

the kid and ms-sassy: I concede that p[ot may not be bad for you, but I have one question. If you have kids do you smoke it around or with them? I mean you both are saying it's good for you and it does no health risk, so I am guessing that you use pot as a family bonding activity. If you aren't buying it and sharing it with your kids why not? You say it should be legal, because it isn't harmful as alchol or cigarettes, atleast thats what you all are saying.

"The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $10,695 in currency, three vehicles and television and stereo equipment."

Ok. I understand that you can seize cars, Trucks, Boats, and items that are used in drug dealing. What I don't understand is how the TV and Stereo were involved. Was it because they were not forthcoming with the police?
I don't get it.

"Abuse" is the word for when someone uses a substance to an extent that one's life is negatively affected.

I can see both sides of making pot legal and keeping it illegal. Alcohol is just as bad as pot and that is legal. If pot was legal the government could regulate it. But, pot is a gateway drug some people say. They say that is just the start to drug use and bigger and better drugs. Most people start out smoking pot and then move up to cocaine and LSD and heroin. The problem is human nature and addiction if people didn't have the need for drugs we wouldn't have alcoholism or drug abuse. I never understood that term either "drug abuse" does that mean if I smoke a little bit of pot is that abuse? If I do some cocaine is that abuse? What is abuse? Is using abusing? As long as there is a market for these drugs there is going to be problems. Money is the root of all evil legal or not.

Does any of u really know what is going on? Has any of u been to any of these mens courts? If not u all need to stop talking like u know what is going on.. I just spent the whole day in Madison and Portage.. In Madison I sat in on 3 of the cases, 2 were kept becuz they were illegal, the other went home, and I know that for a fact as I was there and I was the one who drove him home. Also besides him 2 others have also went home.. this does not mean I was a part of any of this becuz I knew some of them.. a few of the young ones I knew as when they were just kids as I'm old enough to be their mom.. I took the wife of the one out today to support her as she is very close to me and a very special girl.. as to what I listened to in court... I think alot more evidense is needed, as alot was on hear-say.. some of these men r innocent ... u don't have to believe me but when later u read it for urself I hope all u that wrote such bad things eat ur words .. in simple stop judging these guys till u know the true facts.. remember innocent until proven guilty and it is up to the state to prove that they r guilty... and up to the judge and god to judge.

It goes (or should go) far beyond "The "innocent till proven guilty" credo of our legal system means that the the government cannot PENALIZE anyone unless he has been found guilty of a crime in a court of law."
.
It should also be the very thread of the judicial process. At every juncture and especially in the minds of the judge and jury during the trial...way before the penalty phase even comes into play.

Without the typos:

The "innocent till proven guilty" credo of our legal system means that the the government cannot PENALIZE anyone unless he has been found guilty of a crime in a court of law.

"Innocent till proven guilty" does not mean that, prior to conviction, someone who committed a crime DIDN'T commite the crime.

The "innocent till proven guilty" credo of our legal system means that the the government cannot PENALIZE anyone unless he has been foung guilt of a crime in a court of law.

"Innocent till proven guilty" does not mean that, prior to conviction, someone who committed a crime DIDN'T commite the crime.

peechy if you click on those links that sassy posted you will read about my marijuana intake. my mental health is MORE stable than before i started my marijuana only life. looks like you coulda joined one of those discussions on the anti-potters side. woulda prolly added as much relevance to the debate as they did. all hearsay an no proof. do you all work for uncle sam?? cuz thats how he rolls.....

i want to know wat happend with u are innocent till proven guilty.is that not the foundation of America . i personally know by previous experience dat the police is more than willing to frame u to get credit they dont deserve. but is that not how are system works.
well also i want to know if all of the people arrested got procesed or were let go?
wouldnt it be interesting to know...

I really don't care if they're Mexican, White, Purple, etc. These people are selling drugs that can kill a person and even our children! They don't care about anyone, just making the money.

hollynpat.
Selling illegal drugs….. is selling illegal drugs,...... even if some people believe one should be legalized or not. It's the difference between law and personal opinion.

westside I got the info from wikipedia on health issue of cannabis also from:
www.medic8.com and news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4305783.stm

hollynpat- yeah one is a federal offense and the other uses bigger bags.

^5 westside! there was the recent article about TEENS...but pot smoking IMPROVES the mental health in adults...

Hey PEECHY- you said "True cocaine is worst, but they are finding that people who smoke one joint a day run a 40 percent chance of developing mental health problem." I would like to know where you got that information from, because I DO NOT (myself included) know anyone that smokes pot who developed mental health issues

yeah, I've had others comment about the looks of their eyes...wondering if some are stoned or high...I think at least one looks like perhaps mace was used? I don't know, obviously, but it's just an observation/thought that occurred to me.

Just a comment about the looks of some of these guys... We would all take pretty crappy pics if we were pulled out of ours homes in the early hours of the morning... come on .. the police don't let u shower and shave before arresting you. Has that crossed any minds?

NVgrf Oh, I get you now about ripping on being from "up North", uh, redneck, not exposed to the city life etc.... Born & raised in Janesville, lived there for 36 years and moved our family up here because of a job. So, I'm not the dumb redneck you think I am!

I'm not stereotyping. I said I SEE THIS all the time, I don't think it was negative, just an observation. I never said all Mexican's are drug dealers or bad people, I said look at the pictures, some of them even look high! I'd have a comment or two if they were white or whatever race. Besides, I'm not the only person who says "up north" either, jeez, it's just my user name, indication of where I live.

rosiepots, theres a big difference between selling pot and selling cocain.

peechy, I would prefer not to go through the whole process again. (You can call me lazy if you would like; I prefer to think that I am being efficient with my time.) If you would like to see the specifics on whether or not pot should be legalized, click on these links and try to catch up. :)

http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr...
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr...

Ometepec: What does (JAJAJAJAJAJA) mean? Who in here is talking "mad" stuff (as you put it) about Hispanics? I think the majority of us don't have a problem with the Hispanic race who are here legally and are law obiding citizens. These "gentlemen" whether legal or illegal, are selling cocaine, which the last time I checked is against the law. I think that is what most of us in here have a problem with. I also think, of course this is just my opinion, that most of us have a problem with anyone living in our country illegally. If these "gentlemen", who broke the law, are also here illegally I say kick their butts back to Mexico. What is all the nonsense about the KKK and do they actually have a "club"? You need professional help. Seriously, please get some help...

ms_sassy_wi I just looked on line and there are over 150,000 people who enter drug rehabs for addiction to marijuana each year. There are forums to help people who are addicted to pot, so it makes me wonder how anyone can say cocaine is addictive and pot isn't when the truth is they are both addictive drugs. True cocaine is worst, but they are finding that people who smoke one joint a day run a 40 percent chance of developing mental health problem. They have also found that pot has more cancer causing agent then cigarettes. That is the facts and to say one should be legal and the other not is ridiculous. Either both should be legal or both illegal. I vote for illegal. One last fact people who use the hard drugs like coke were people who smoked pot and moved to harder drugs because they wanted a bigger buzz so to speak.

Pot, in my opinion is not bad. I grew up with a lot of pot smokers and coke heads and it was the cocaine addicts that ended up not amounting to anything and not doing anything with their lives. Most of the people who smoked pot eventually ended up quitting when they got older. The coke heads are still doing it. I know one in paticular who spends every cent she has on it rather than on her kids. She has stolen to support her habit, she has whored herself out to get it and she has put herself and her children in danger trying to get her next fix. I for one have never heard of a pot head stealing or prostituting themselves out just to get high. To me, it wouldn't matter what race these people were. I'd feel the same if they were caucasion. Cocaine is a nasty drug.

peechy, marijuana is not addictive. I said cocaine SHOULD remain illegal. The reason I made my comment is because someone asked if the reason most of the posters here are not defending the suspects is because of the drug involved or the nationality of the suspects. My opinion is that cocaine is like a cancer to our community.

No one should say anything... If you know these people, of course you don't want anyone to say anything, you wish that it would all just go away. No one is going to ask your permission to express their opinions. This is the comment section and they are going to express themselves whether you like it or not and you have a pretty good idea what a lot of them are going to say. So why are you reading this stuff and upsetting yourself?

Pot should be illegal and coke not. The arguement that cocaine is addictive and pot isn't? Alchol and cigarettes aren't addictive either. LOL.

Excuse me Baby08, but I'm not a drug pusher so to me I'm not a lowlife!! These pushers are!!!!

I enjoy reading these comments.. They make me think about how the ppl that are talking stuff here are the least indicated to talk... No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes... No one knows these ppl personally so they have no room to talk may god be with these gentlemans and their families if they get a long time in prison then so be it but no one should say anything... Oh and to those who are saying that they should get deported get your info right all of them are citizens and these ppl are not lowlifes either but then again ppl always say what is really a reflection of themselves... THANKS TO THOSE WHO DEFEND THESE PPL

Sounds as if there are a few angry people on here who just might have lost their dealer.... :o)

Jackson1 Are you ripping on someone here about their spelling? Your own spelling and grammar on the Live free, Ride free blog is awful!
(his brain keep moving) you were talking in past tense, therefore his brain KEPT moving.
(I am not say helmet are not a ok thing)
(I look at it as I do a rape a case were the defence blames the lady for the rape because she looked to nice)
There are more, but I'm done. I proved my point.

To be fair, the nationality of these men has not been established. The people who are defending them are as guilty of profiling as are those who are deriding them. Let's wait and see what the facts are. Still, that Hernandez looks guilty to me.;-)

it is the drug being sold! Marijuana should NOT be illegal. Cocaine should. Cocaine is addictive, harmful to the body, harmful to the heart, when you are out you "need" more, etc. Marijuana is not addictive and does not produce the irregular heart palpitations, the "need" for more, the crimes associated with the "need" for more, etc.

I don't think it's a double standard. I think it's that people's views typically are to legalize marijuana but not cocaine.

After a reader e-mailed me and after reading the comments on this story, I thought I should clarify the immigration issue.

The police said they don't know the immigration status of the 10 men arrested last week. Because this is a federal investigation with federal charges, immigration status will come up, but it wasn't a focus of the investigation to this point.

Thanks,
Kayla Bunge
Reporter

Double standards as in.. The majority of the posts about the Pot dealers were in support of them and how it shouldn't be a crime. The Posts on this story seem to run the other direction. Selling one type of illigal drug is acceptabe and selling another isn't? One would ask if it is A: the type of drug being sold? or B: The nationality of the seller? Either way seems to be a double standard.

upnorthwi is a very appropriate name. I just called Guinness in that she just broke the world's record for stereotyping in two short entries.

do any of them have a green card?

and, if ometepec did say she had a child with one of these "men", more likely than not, just by looking at how she goes street talk to normal English, she's probably white. Working with the public I see this all the time. White gals that are wannabees and try to be like their mate's race. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with interracial relationships, but when they act all tough and cool etc. it makes them look so stupid!

I don't think anyone's really being racist, all you have to do is look at the pics. Thses guys look like thugs.

Hoolynpat I am curious how you no they are illegal. I have read this article over and over and no where do I see the words say they are illegal. Then again does it really matter if they are legal or illegal. What matters is if they are guilty the are punished accordingly.

Imigration: That was hilarious! Thanks for posting it.

Warning! One of the first signs of drug use is incorrect spelling when writing.

I feel the Gazette dropped the ball on an important aspect of this article. Are these people U.S citizens?

what do you mean double standard????

I find it funny that the comments on this article differ so greatly from those posted on the story about the eight pounds of pot and those people who were arrested. Double standard?

keep allowing illegals in our country.

To all of you people who believe that you know it all, first go back to school or the library or do a research on where the drugs came from, and you'll find out that, men who worked for the government help the drugs to get here and yes they got paid for it. and they never got prosecuted for it because they were "white me" so don't be blaming everything on the mexicans. so go and learn who really brought the drugs here. and see who consumes them the most. drug addicts are addicts because they choose to be. there is many places where they can get help nobody is to blame but themselves.

To all of you peopel who believe that you know it all, first go back to school or the library or do a research on where the drugs came from, and you'll find out that, men who worked for the government help the drugs to get here and yes they got paid for it. and they never got prosecuted for it because they were "white me" so don't be blaming everything on the mexicans. so go and learn who really brought the drugs here. and see who consumes them the most. drug addicts are addicts because they choose to be. there is many places where they can get help nobody is to blame but themselves.

hi

Check out the L.E.A.P.(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) website at http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

These Hispanic men were once again "only doing jobs that not everyone wants to do." If there were no demand for the cocaine there would be no need for the supply. Who do you think is buying the cocaine? White Americans that’s who! Now I'm not for illegal immigration but I do believe this countries failed drug policy needs to change. Crime will not decrease because of these arrests. I predict local crime will actually increase due to increased cocaine prices because of the decreased local cocaine supply.

Just 10 more reasons i need to start a Minuteman chapter in southern Wisconsin. I have already talked to I.C.E. agents in Milwaukee and informed them of certain companies in the area that do not care about federal laws. They are well aware of most of them but say they are "too busy" to make a visit to them. Hats off to our local law enforcement though. Great bust. Now to all of you out there that want to call me a racist, go right ahead. I have White, Black, Mexican, Phillipeno friends that feel the same way i do about this immigration debacle our politicians have created for us to live with. Get in line and do it the right way or leave because believe me when i say you are not wanted here if you cannot follow our laws.You are too much of a burden and too big of a liability to the honest hardworking taxpayers of this country.

Wow! I came back to read all this crap... sounds like some are kinda racist here... would you all be saying this if these 10 men were white? Not all drug dealers are mexican.. not all people that have done a crime are mexican... look at your prisons... I believe it is a mixture of races.

I second that, kid! Go shutupandfish, I'd vote for you..

shutupandfish for president!!

I remember hearing about that man Emmanuel (Manny) Avila several years ago. He's been around for a long time. I saw many co-workers at that time using and addicted to his stuff here in Janesville. From what I remember he helped supply the old Sharkeys bar, his GF bartended there. It sure is nice to see he has been arrested.

I'm sure some readers were disappointed it wasn't GM workers. Too bad...now lets quit being such liberals and admit, immigration and these busts were directly related.

nowind- I believe omelepec said on a post/thread yesterday that she has a baby with one of these dealers.

I think you hit the nail on the head nowind!

ometepec never did tell us why she/ he thought these folks were innocent and we should cut them a break. Well at least not in a way that we can understand. There has to be more to Ometepec's story than we can see here. Most people don't defend Drug dealers so vigorously unless they have something at stake in the trade.

the comment about sitting on here with no job etc...was cancelled out by your denying the fact that you don't have a job...so if it doesn't apply to you, why does it to others? Good luck with that 23/hr job....with an attitude like yours, you won't be around for long.

ometepec: did you make it far enough in school to be put in the ED classes. Better yet, have you even been close to a learning facility? This is why we need get most of the illegal Population out of our country. Soon you will have to learn Spanish before you can go to the store and buy something. ometepec: as for you, I suggest sticking to cartoons and PB&Js

PS is postscript which means you are adding an additional comment to something--plain old, common English! Jajaja!

We should legalize Marijuana. We could tax the product just as we do with cigarettes and liqour. People are making a lot of money off of this stuff and the government and the taxpayers are missing out. Use the tax dollars generated from the sale of marijuana and use it for lowering other taxes. The dealers are making cash hands over fist why can't we profit from it? People love this stuff and will always smoke it. I just think we should leagalize it.

What is "ps"? polish, french? mymaro, it isnt your counrty, get that in you head...This isnt a job application is it, its a place where rude people that are mad express there feelings because they dont have a job and just sit home and do nothing.......I got a job and im probly living better than you making $23 and hour....oh and it isnt illegal and im a citizen........People on here, get a life........end of conversation, peace rednecks!!!!!!!!!!jajaja im outtttt

when I took spanish class "jajaja" was a form of laughing.. don't know why.. but anyways i've seen a lot of good people turn bad by doing this obscene drug. i hate it, it does nothing except make you not want to sleep at night, but sleep all day. People change, i've seen people FREAK out because they can't get their "stuff" keep these people off the streets!!

I hope they all have long happy lives............IN Federal Prison

good job for th eboys in blue. Keep it up

and they want to make it EASIER for these people to get in our country? yeah thats all we need.

what is "jajaja" mean? I don't get it.

Ps. My friend was addicted to smoking cocain and it was a really hard thing to watch her go thru. I think that if people that sell this type of drug are taken off the streets, it's a good thing. I understand it sucks for the people that use, because it's harder to find, but for the people that have to watch someone they love go thru a drug addiction, it's REALLY exciting to see the drug dealers get caught. It's just one step closer to real freedom from a debilitating addiction.

What is jajaja? English? Come on. You make yourself sound ridiculous.

"IZ COOL" does that work for job applications? Didn't think so......

Once again, the poster boy speaks from the heart....because there obviously is nothing coming from the mind.
Better get to bed son, you have a full day of preschool tomorrow.

ometepec...........people with your attitude are a real bothersome part of these blogs. I didn't think people like you used the computer...shouldn't you be out bullying some 11 year old?? Lighten up.

HONESTLY...some people should not HAVE computers.

YIPEE Law enforcement. I AM SO HAPPY you caught these pushers. Looks as if they had a little gang of their own going on here. It bothers me large that some random house you or I may drive by with our children on the way to the grocery store has this going on inside. Thank God our cars don't pose a threat on most days, because you know they are watching out that window with a loaded gun. Very scary.

ometepec:
I would just like to say that we need more "stand up model citizens" like the men arrested. Cities would benefitt tremendously from well versed, educated peoples like yourself. You are really a "poster boy" for the Hispanic community.