MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Depronce Burnett, 39, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 11 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  This prison term will be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release.  Burnett pleaded guilty to this charge on May 11, 2023.

In the fall of 2021, Burnett distributed cocaine and methamphetamine in Rock County, Wisconsin, primarily out of his home in Beloit. Even after his arrest by the Beloit Police Department on September 30, 2021, Burnett directed the further sale of cocaine and methamphetamine from the jail by calling his wife, Dominique Holsten. The sales continued until police executed search warrants at their Beloit home on October 27, 2021.  During the search, officers found hidden stashes of illegal narcotics, including more than 900 grams of cocaine and over 500 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to $87,000 in U.S. currency.

Burnett had an extensive history of trafficking in narcotics, for which he had served short sentences in state prison.  In sentencing Burnett, Judge Conley noted that Burnett had no real employment history in nearly 20 years except for selling drugs.  Conley said that although Burnett had numerous opportunities to go in a different direction, Burnett escalated his dealing to a level that did damage to the entire community.  Conley said that a significant sentence was necessary because Burnett was a risk to the public, as none of his prior sentences had an impact on his choice to deal narcotics. 

Burnett’s wife, Dominique Holsten, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Conley on August 15 for her role in facilitating the distribution of drugs after Burnett’s arrest.



The charge against Burnett was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Beloit and Janesville Police Departments, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.