Madison man convicted on heroin charges

A Madison man is facing federal prison time after being convicted on three heroin charges Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Madison said Melvin R. Thomas, 37, of Madison, was convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and two counts of possessing heroin with intent to distribute. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Prosecutors said investigators intercepted phone calls in 2010 between Thomas and his heroin source in Chicago, and photographed Thomas meeting with the supplier at a gas station in Chicago.

The supplier, Domingo Blount, was convicted in Illinois and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Thomas was twice stopped driving from Chicago to Madison in 2010 and in both cases hid heroin on his girlfriend who was traveling with him. They also said Thomas made a call from the Dane County jail asking someone to dispose of heroin hidden in his home, and they found numerous text messages on his cellphone from customers ordering heroin.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 31.