Police Disrupt Drug Deal Started with Online Gaming

Milwaukee police say a Racine man is in serious trouble after he admitted to selling drugs for someone he met playing an online game.

Nico Vallin, 22, was charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count each of conspiracy to deliver marijuana, second or subsequent offense and bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison and/or up to $35,000 in fines. Because he is considered a repeat offender, Vallin could get extra time tacked onto any sentence he might receive.

According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police on July 18 found a package shipping to an address on May Street in Racine. Department K9s sniffed and indicated may contain illegal drugs, and when officers opened the parcel, they found a letter locking file secured with two padlocks.

Police say they obtained a warrant and when they broke the locks, they found over 1,000 grams of " high grade marijuana in food saver type bags."

MPD detectives, with two Wisconsin State Troopers, visited the May Street address and questioned Vallin who appeared nervous and stuttered when advised of the reason for the officers' visit, the complaint reads. Vallin admitted to officers that he had been selling drugs for a guy he met playing an online game, the complaint reads.

Officers say Vallin advised them he had received three boxes of marijuana from a man in California, sold the drugs to a handful of individuals in Racine and sent back around $10,000. The defendant also showed police a series of text messages in which the man was questioning the whereabouts of the most recent shipment. The sender believed the drugs stolen, and he threatened to send people to Vallin's house.

Vallin remains in the Racine County Jail on a $7,500 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is Sept. 25.