A California man has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy that operated across several Midwestern states. Joathan Colula, 33, received a 228-month sentence on February 10, 2026, after being found guilty by a jury in July 2025. He will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
Court documents revealed that Colula supplied drugs to an organization with distribution centers in Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the greater Chicago area, and Northern Indiana. The group distributed large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine. To hide the proceeds from these activities, Colula laundered money through business bank accounts and managed the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from the Midwest to California.
Law enforcement arrested fifteen people connected to the organization on November 29, 2022. Searches at locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and California led to the seizure of over ten kilograms of fentanyl, about seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, nearly two kilograms of heroin, ecstasy, oxycodone, approximately 170 pounds of marijuana and edibles, over $450,000 in cash, and nineteen firearms.
Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper described the case as a significant multi-state operation involving multiple drugs. She noted Colula’s key role and long-term involvement with the group.
Another defendant in the case was Michael Williams. He managed the main stash site in Minneapolis where controlled substances were mixed and packaged. Williams was also convicted at trial and sentenced to twenty years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel commented: “Virtually everyone knows someone whose life has been utterly destroyed by the extraordinarily dangerous drugs that have inundated our communities of every shape and size,” adding that “Modern day drug traffickers have dramatically changed the very nature of our world with the violence, crime and death that follows in their wake. The judge sent the clear message that our community has had enough of the suffering wrought by these criminals.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman stated: “The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the role our officers played in this case and grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in this investigation. Drug traffickers bring great harm to our community and must be held accountable.” He continued: “MPD values our collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in criminal cases like this to build a safer city for everyone to live, work and play.”
DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Todd Smith said: “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused by large-scale drug trafficking operations and the meaningful accountability that follows,” noting that coordination among various agencies led to dismantling a multi-state organization distributing dangerous drugs throughout the Midwest.
The investigation involved agents from several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration; police departments from Milwaukee, West Allis, South Milwaukee; Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service; Apple Valley Police Department; as well as support from North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Monfils and Erica Lounsberry prosecuted the case.
The HIDTA program is run by Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as a grant initiative supporting multi-agency efforts aimed at disrupting or dismantling drug trafficking organizations operating locally or across state lines.
