(WFRV) – An Arizona cartel member was convicted in Wisconsin for distributing fentanyl and for threatening violence by offering connections to a fellow inmate if they killed witnesses in his trial.
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According to a release from Brad Schimel, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Jose Cardenas-Salcido was convicted of the following crimes during a bench trial before Judge J.P. Stadtmueller:
- Distribution of fentanyl
- Using the mail to facilitate a felony
- Attempted obstruction involving physical violence
- Attempted obstruction involving corrupt persuasion
The investigation into Cardenas-Salcido started when authorities deemed him responsible for an October 2022 shipment with over 5,000 fentanyl pills, supplied to lower-level drug dealers in and around Milwaukee.
Cardenas-Salcido was found to be a member of the Sinaloa cartel with family connections. In addition, while he was detained, he tried to obstruct justice in numerous ways.
While in custody, Cardenas-Salcido offered to supply another inmate with guns and drugs from the cartel in exchange for false exculpatory affidavits, as well as offering a connection into the cartel to another inmate in exchange for killing witnesses set to testify against him.
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In addition, Cardenas-Salcido intimidated witnesses with threatening letters that specifically mentioned connections to the cartel, sent to their families.
Cardenas-Salcido will be sentenced on April 24.
