District of Nebraska
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Grand Island Man Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Zakaria Hassan, 30, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 15, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. The sentence was enhanced because Hassan had a prior conviction for a serious drug felony. Hassan forfeited his car and $17,533 cash to the government because the car and cash were proceeds of his drug dealing. After he completes his prison sentence, Hassan will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In February of 2021, Hassan sold approximately 113 grams of methamphetamine to a cooperating witness in Grand Island. The drugs were sent to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau where an analyst confirmed the presence of at least 96 grams of pure methamphetamine. In September 2021, Hassan supplied approximately 85 grams methamphetamine to a cooperating witness in Grand Island. In January 2022, Hassan was arrested in Lincoln after police officers found a distribution amount of methamphetamine in his pocket and in the engine compartment of his car. During a search of his Grand Island residence later that month, police found more drugs, paraphernalia, and $15,893 cash.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Trident Drug Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Falls City Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Daniel Lock, 35, of Falls City, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 17, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 42 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. After he completes his prison sentence, Lock will also serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Between January and June of 2021, Lock and co-defendant Taylor Zimmerling distributed methamphetamine in and around Falls City. Several cooperating witnesses told investigators that Lock and Zimmerling, who is set to be sentenced on July 6, delivered distribution quantities of methamphetamine to them. On June 3, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at Lock’s residence in Falls City. Investigators located approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging material, cash, and a police scanner. A search of cell phones belonging to Lock and Zimmerling revealed messages consistent with drug delivery, sales, and distribution. Lock admitted that the drugs found at the residence belonged to him. A forensic scientist at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab found the drug seizure to contain at least 44 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office.
Minden Woman Convicted for Misuse of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Gabriela Navarrete, 44, of Minden, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for misuse of a social security number. Navarrete was sentenced to time served and will serve 3 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On November 16, 2017, Gabriela Navarrete filled out and signed a Form I-9 in order to begin employment at Casey’s General Store in Nebraska. On the Form I-9, she filled in the blanks for “U.S. Social Security Number” with a social security number that did not belong to her. As verification of the information provided on the Form I-9, Navarrete provided a Social Security Card bearing her name and the specific social security number (SSN).
Navarrete knew that SSN had not been assigned to her by the Commissioner of Social Security. She provided that SSN with the intention to deceive Casey’s General Store into believing that number was assigned to her. Navarrete made that false representation to satisfy Section 274A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Grand Jury-May 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned ten unsealed Indictments charging ten defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Fernando Aguirre-Quintero, age 24, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about March 1, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Danielle Cleary, age 28, of Bancroft, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Cleary with assault resulting in serious bodily injury on the Omaha Indian Reservation on or about January 11, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Cleary with child abuse on the Omaha Indian Reservation on or about January 11, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 3 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, an eighteen-month term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Jeffrey Edwards, age 66, of Omaha, is charged in a sixteen-count Indictment. Counts I through IX charge Edwards with healthcare fraud between on or about 2010 and continuing to on or about 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts X through XIII charge Edwards with controlled substance prescribed outside the usual course of medical practice between on or about 2010 and continuing to on or about 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a not less than three-years’ and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts XIV through XVI charge Edwards with false statements relating to health care matters on or about February 15, 2018 and continuing to on or about November 19, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment.
* Marcus Green, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Green with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about July 1, 2022. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Green with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense on or about July 1, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment to run consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Green with prohibited person in possession of a firearm on or about July 1, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Robert Vincent Harris, age 56, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Harris with distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury on or about February 14, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 20 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Harris with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on or about February 14, 2023 and continuing until February 15, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Alejandro Hernandez-Hernandez, a/k/a Alejandro Hernandez, age 37, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about May 9, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Robert Johnson, age 39, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Johnson with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about July 1, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Johnson with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense on or about July 1, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment to run consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release consecutive, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Riek J. Kuany, age 24, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Kuany with Bank Robbery on or about April 6, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Kuany with brandishing a weapon to commit a federal crime of violence on or about April 6, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 7 years’ and up to life imprisonment to run consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release consecutive, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Kuany with Bank Robbery on or about April 11, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-years term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Kuany with brandishing a weapon to commit a federal crime of violence on or about April 22, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 7 years’ and up to life imprisonment to run consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release consecutive, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Kevin Radik, age 37, of Papillion, Nebraska, is charged with delay or destruction of mail beginning on or about December 1, 2022 and continuing through on or about March 16, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Allan Onelio Velasquez-Velasquez, age 47, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after a felony conviction beginning on or about May 10, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
Texas Man Sentenced for String of Nebraska Pharmacy BurglariesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Christopher Benjamin Blanton, 30, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his involvement in a string of pharmacy burglaries that occurred in Nebraska. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Blanton to 63 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Blanton will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Blanton was also ordered to pay $24,917 in restitution.
From February 10, 2021 to February 12, 2021, seven Nebraska pharmacies, located in Springfield, Fremont, and Omaha, were burglarized. In response, a DEA-led task force was formed, which included the Omaha Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. Court-authorized warrants were obtained for cell tower data in the area of the burglaries, that when compared, established that specific cell phones were present at the different burglaries. It was determined from the data that the cell phones were traveling between Texas and Nebraska via Interstate 35. With cooperation from law enforcement agencies in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa, it was determined that two individuals involved in the pharmacy burglaries were Blanton and Christopher Williams.
Williams is scheduled to enter a plea of guilty on May 24, 2023.
“DEA takes the theft and diversion of pharmaceutical drugs seriously, as many prescription medications are highly addictive,” said DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King. “This defendant was likely driven by the money he would get selling these drugs on the black market, but the cost to public health and safety is intolerable. By his thoughtless, criminal actions, he not only harms the individuals he’s selling to, but also the people who need those medications for legitimate medical reasons. DEA is dedicated to investigating these cases and ensuring access to prescriptions for those who need them.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Omaha Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lugene Burnett, 59, of Omaha, Nebraska, to 21 months’ incarceration for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Burnett will serve a 3-year term of supervised release.
On May 18, 2022, Burnett went to Sol’s Jewelry and Loan and pawned a Savage Arms Springfield 120A .22L rifle for $45. On May 13 and May 22, 2022, Burnett also pawned ammunition at Sol’s. During the transactions, Burnett’s driver’s license was copied, his fingerprints were taken, he was photographed, and he signed documents completing the transaction. The rifle was examined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was determined to have traveled in interstate commerce prior to Burnett’s possession. The Omaha Police Department investigated the history of the firearm and determined that the firearm belonged to Burnett’s girlfriend’s great uncle who had passed away. Burnett’s girlfriend was present in the pawnshop during the transactions, but Burnett was the one handling the firearm and ammunition and completing the transactions.
Prior to May 13, 2022, Burnett had been and knew he had been convicted of felonies to include Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree in Iowa and Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Violation in Nebraska.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partner: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Omaha Police Department. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Alfredo Escobar, 40, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Conspiracy to Possesses with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Escobar to 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Escobar will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
Law enforcement made two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Escobar over the course of a 10-month period in the Omaha area. The first buy was for one ounce of methamphetamine on August 3, 2020. The second buy was for two ounces of methamphetamine on June 1, 2021. On June 11, 2021, a search warrant was served on Escobar’s Omaha residence with officers locating approximately one pound of methamphetamine. During a post-arrest interview, Escobar admitted to his involvement in distributing methamphetamine.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Omaha Police Department.
Mexican Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tomas Lorenzo-Cruz, 45, of Mexico, was sentenced on May 16, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lorenzo-Cruz to 135 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Lorenzo-Cruz will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
Beginning in November 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated Operation Pollos Socios, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) to investigate the distribution activities of a Mexican-based Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) active in Omaha, Nebraska. This investigation included numerous warrants including a court-authorized Title III interception of phone calls and text messages. During the investigation, DEA special agents identified Lorenzo-Cruz as a methamphetamine distributor for the DTO. A Title III intercept of Lorenzo-Cruz’s phone led investigators to other co-conspirators. Ultimately, a search warrant was executed on a stash house that resulted in the seizure of 21 pounds of pure methamphetamine.
Lorenzo-Cruz was the last defendant to be sentenced as part of this investigation. Fidel Cardenas-Alvarez was sentenced on December 9, 2022, to 144 months’ imprisonment. Darald Sandman was sentenced on March 6, 2023, to 138 months’ imprisonment. Teresa Forbes was sentenced on March 6, 2023, to 70 months’ imprisonment.
“The Sinaloa Cartel is one of two Mexican drug trafficking organizations who have made their destructive presence felt in the United States and within our own Midwestern communities,” Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “The DEA remains focused on targeting and disrupting associates and distributors of the Cartel. Today’s sentencing is the result of the cooperative efforts between several state, local and federal law enforcement partners. Working together we can make a positive impact in Nebraska.”
This effort is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department.
Holdrege Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Cory D. Sikes, 41, of Holdrege, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for possession of child pornography. Sikes was sentenced to 138 months in prison and will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Sikes was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of crimes.
This case began when a CyberTipline Report (“CTR”) was provided to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children from a social media application on October 31, 2021. The CTR specified that eight images and one video depicting child pornography were uploaded by an individual, later identified as Sikes, between the dates of October 28, 2021 and October 29, 2021.
Based on the information from the CTR, a search warrant was received and executed on January 13, 2022, for Sikes’s residence. During the search, Sikes was interviewed and admitted to searching for child pornography online. Several of Sikes’s devices were seized during the execution of the search warrant. The devices were forensically downloaded and examined. Sikes’s personal cellphone contained 120 images of child pornography and another 483 images were questionable and/or child erotica. His laptop contained 350 images of child pornography and another 500 images which were questionable and/or child erotica.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Juan Velasquez-Velasquez, 48, of Guatemala, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for false representation of a social security number. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Velasquez-Velasquez to imprisonment for 6 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Velasquez-Velasquez will begin a 1-year term of supervised release. Velasquez-Velasquez will be removed by immigration authorities from the United States to Mexico after completing his sentence.
In August of 2022, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (NEDMV) Fraud Unit contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) after receiving a complaint from an identity theft victim.
HSI obtained a copy of a USCIS Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form completed by the Velasquez-Velasquez on February 24, 2022, at Cornerstone Staffing using the victim’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. Velasquez-Velasquez used a fraudulent Nebraska Identification Card and a Social Security Card bearing the victim’s Social Security Number, as proof of identity to obtain employment. Velasquez-Velasquez also attested to holding U.S. citizenship while completing the form.
The case was investigated by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.
Omaha Drug Dealer Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Steven Sainsbury, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sainsbury to 240 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge for a total sentence of 300 months in the Bureau of Prisons. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On March 31, 2021, an Omaha Police confidential source purchased more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from Sainsbury, an Omaha-based methamphetamine dealer. A search of his home resulted in the seizure of more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of heroin, 14 grams of cocaine, a Glock 10mm handgun, and $5,744 in United States currency.
In an interview with police, Sainsbury provided police with the name of his supplier: co-defendant Jose Leyva-Martinez. With this information, officers searched Leyva-Martinez’s home, seizing nearly 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, money transfer receipts, ammunition, 2 drug scales, vehicle titles for a gray Toyota Tacoma, a gray Honda civic, and a black GMC 1500, a money counter, drug ledger, jewelry, $468,990.00 in United States currency, and an Astra 9mm handgun. The handgun was found in a bedroom near $28,000 in United States currency.
Leyva-Martinez admitted to being a methamphetamine supplier and distributor for the Sinaloa Cartel. He admitted that all three vehicles and the residence were put in his name at the direction of the Cartel. Law enforcement estimated that the seized currency represented cash proceeds from the sale of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. This was confirmed by Leyva-Martinez and Sainsbury, both of whom admitted to distributing between 1-3 pounds of methamphetamine, per day, over the course of the previous several months.
Leyva-Martinez’s home, vehicles, monies, and other valuables were seized by law enforcement as proceeds of narcotics trafficking. For his part in the conspiracy, Leyva-Martinez was sentenced to 270 months in the Bureau of Prisons followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Mexican Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jose Adan Rodriguez-Meza, 39, of Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in methamphetamine drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Rodriguez-Meza to 135 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Lorenzo-Cruz will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In February 2022, Rodriguez-Meza was identified by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department as a bulk distributor of methamphetamine. Using a confidential informant, investigators purchased a total of six pounds of methamphetamine on February 28, 2022, March 23, 2022, and April 8, 2022. On April 8, 2022, a search warrant was executed on Rodriguez-Meza’s residence and an additional four pounds of pure methamphetamine were seized.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Omaha Police Department.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dirk Johnson, 58, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy that included possessing firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Johnson to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Johnson will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On December 19, 2019, Sarpy County Sheriff’s investigators executed a search warrant on the home of Johnson and Linda Riaski. During the search, dozens of small baggies of methamphetamine were located. Johnson and Riaski were stopped while driving past the residence while the search was ongoing. In the vehicle, more baggies of methamphetamine and a handgun were found. In a second vehicle located on the property, more baggies of methamphetamine and another firearm were located. Johnson was involved in possessing with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy that occurred from December 1, 2019, through December 19, 2019.
Riaski was sentenced on February 16, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 120 months for her role in the conspiracy and for possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.
California Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Katherine Marie Tacheira, 51, of Walnut Creek, California, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for her participation in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Tacheira to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Tacheira will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In May 2020, the Holt County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol. and the United States Postal Inspection Service began investigating Lindsey Rokahr and Dallas Rhinehart for their involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Norfolk, Nebraska, area. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Tacheira was the source of the methamphetamine, who would mail multi-ounce packages from California to recipients in Nebraska. The USPS was able to determine that three packages of methamphetamine were sent by Tacheira in July, August, and September of 2020. The September package from Tacheira to Rokahr was intercepted and contained three ounces of methamphetamine. The total amount of methamphetamine sent by Tacheira was 13 ounces.
Rhinehart was sentenced on March 13, 2023, to 130 months’ imprisonment. Rokahr has entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy and is set for sentencing on August 4, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Holt County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and United States Postal Inspection Service.
Two Gang Members Sentenced for Sexual Assault and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that two No Name Demon gang members were sentenced on May 11, 2023 for their roles in the video recorded gang rapes of two minor females in Lincoln, Nebraska. One victim was 16 years old at the time of the assault and the other was 14 years old. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Isaiah Dorsey, 21, of Lincoln to 240 months, or 20 years, in federal prison for conspiracy to produce child pornography. Krysean Reynolds, 21, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for producing child pornography.
Investigation revealed that the gang members were tricking young women into Reynolds’s home and then forcing them to participate in painful sexual acts with multiple gang members at the same time, and one victim had a cut glass bottle forced inside her body against her will. Reynolds and Dorsey recorded the rapes and shared them in the No Name Demon’s group Snapchat. Each of the defendants also pleaded guilty to participating in a firearms conspiracy in furtherance of drug trafficking with other gang members and received concurrent sentences for those offenses of 70 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition, at the end of their respective terms of federal imprisonment, each of the defendants will be placed on a term of supervised release for 10 years.
Judge Gerrard described the video recorded rapes of the two underage teenage girls as “unspeakable sexual assaults,” and “horrendous” crimes. Judge Gerrard went on to state that young men who are willing to join gangs, tote guns, and promote violence on social media need to be prepared to do serious time. The Court promised to protect the public from these senseless violent acts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was primarily investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lincoln Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Antonio Olvera, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for receipt of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Olvera to 96 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Olvera will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
Between December 8, 2018, and August 22, 2019, Olvera uploaded 184 images of child pornography to DropBox. Between June 16, 2020, and August 10, 2020, Olvera uploaded another 14 files containing child pornography. Upon Olvera’s request, between June 22, 2021, and September 22, 2021, a minor sent Olvera via Snapchat images and videos of child pornography depicting the minor. Olvera engaged in “catfishing” and posed as different individuals online when requesting that the minor send the images and videos.
On September 22, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Olvera’s Omaha residence. Agents obtained Olvera’s digital devices and located approximately 417 files containing child pornography. Agents located the child pornography that Olvera had received from the minor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.Illinois Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Escape from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Martese Rayshawn Roland, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Escape from Custody. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Roland to one year in prison. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On July 18, 2016, Roland was convicted in the District of Nebraska for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana, and Use of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Roland received a 96-month sentence that he served at the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
On August 17, 2022, Roland was transferred to the Residential Re-Entry Center in Omaha (RRC DISMAS) to finish his sentence that was set to expire on January 14, 2023. On September 16, 2022, Roland left RRC DISMAS without permission. He was located in Omaha by deputies with the United States Marshals Service on October 31, 2022, and was arrested at that time for escape.
This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.
Columbus Man Convicted of Mail Fraud and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jerald Schreiber, 66, of Columbus, Nebraska, was found guilty today following a four-day jury trial in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for mail fraud and two counts of making false statements to a government entity. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. scheduled Schreiber’s sentencing for August 4, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.
The case arose out of fraudulent applications Schreiber made to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the Farm Service Agency’s 2018 market facilitation program. The evidence at trial showed that Schreiber falsified on two applications the number of hogs he had at his farms. On an application for one of his farms, he stated that he had 9,079 hogs. This application resulted in the USDA mailing Schreiber approximately $72,631. On an application for a different farm, he stated he had 8,194 hogs. This resulted in the USDA mailing Schreiber approximately $65,682. Both of these farms had substantially fewer hogs than Schreiber claimed. By inflating the number of hogs, Schreiber received more money than he was entitled. Once he received the inflated payments, he deposited them into checking accounts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bronx, New York Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Felix Pena, 34, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced today in Omaha, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pena was sentenced to 60 months in prison and will also serve 3 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Pena was ordered to pay $404,069 in restitution.
This case began in 2017 when Pena, along with others, conspired and agreed together to devise a scheme to defraud Verizon Wireless. Members of the conspiracy did so by acquiring stolen identities of real United States citizens including at least three individuals from Nebraska. The conspiracy members would use the victims’ information to create Verizon accounts. Once accounts were created, they would purchase cellphones and accessories that would be billed to the accounts, causing financial loss to Verizon and potential credit damage to the individual whose identity was used. Once purchased, the phones would be shipped back to New York or New Jersey where they would be sold on the black market. In February of 2019, two of the conspirators were arrested after attempting to purchase cellphones using the stolen identity of a Nebraska resident in Kearney, Nebraska thus beginning the investigation of this matter.
Pena’s main role in the conspiracy was to run credit reports for the stolen identities so they could determine the credit worthiness of the victim whose identity was being used to open a Verizon account. Pena would also distribute money to the other members of the conspiracy for their roles in the conspiracy. Pursuant to the scheme, Verizon Wireless suffered a loss of $528,002.33.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Kearney Police Department.
California Men Arraigned for Conspiring to Distribute Drugs and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Eric Thibodo, 54, of Malibu, California, and Evan Bowen, 45, of Garberville, California, appeared today before the Honorable Michael D. Nelson, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Nebraska, and pleaded not guilty to a three-count indictment that was unsealed on April 20, 2023. Count I charges Conspiracy to Distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. The maximum penalty is at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Money Laundering and Count III charges Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. If convicted of either Count II or III, the possible penalty is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Both men were released on conditions and will be monitored by the United States Probation and Pre-Trial Services agency.
David Leidermann, David Bose, and James Reja were also charged in the same indictment. Leidermann and Bose were arrested in California and have yet to make an appearance in the District of Nebraska. Reja has not been arrested. All defendants charged in an indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment is the result an investigation dating back to September of 2019 and has revealed evidence of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and millions of dollars in drug proceeds being illegally transported in the District of Nebraska and elsewhere.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Omaha Woman Sentenced to 72 Months After Jury Convicts Her of Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kristen M. Patterson, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 3, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. United States District Brian C. Buescher sentenced Patterson to 72 months’ imprisonment. She was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release after her release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
In the early morning hours on April 7, 2021, Omaha Police officers observed Patterson’s truck and attached trailer parked and blocking the entrance of a storage facility in Omaha. After running the plates, officers discovered the trailer was stolen. Using their loudspeakers, patrol lights, spotlight, and sirens, law enforcement attempted to call Patterson out of the truck for approximately 20 minutes. Despite observing Patterson actively moving around the driver’s seat several times, Patterson did not comply with officer requests. After law enforcement made contact with Patterson, they discovered a knife on her driver’s seat and a firearm within hands reach in the inside open pocket of the center console. Patterson knew she was a felon at the time and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. Patterson was the sole person in the truck. Her truck and the stolen trailer were packed with her household items because she was moving.
At trial, Patterson testified that she did not know that the firearm was in her truck despite it being next to her leg and visible from the driver’s seat. After hearing this testimony and other evidence at trial, the jury found her guilty. In determining her sentence Judge Buescher found that Patterson obstructed justice by lying when she testified at her trial. He ultimately sentenced her to 72 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Omaha Men Sentenced for Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Marques Eiland, 28, and Aarion Jenkins, 29, both of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced on May 3, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to distribute marijuana. Jenkins had already served 11 months in state and federal prison for conduct relating to the conspiracy. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Jenkins to an additional 40 months of imprisonment. Judge Buescher sentenced Eiland to 31 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After their release from prison, Jenkins and Eiland will both begin a three-year term of supervised release.
Between October of 2018 and December of 2020, Jenkins and Eiland were part of a marijuana conspiracy in Omaha, involving greater than 50 kilograms of marijuana. As part of the conspiracy, individuals shipped marijuana from California to locations in Omaha, including Eiland’s residence. Jenkins and Eiland were both involved in the distribution of the marijuana in Omaha. On December 18, 2020, agents executed a search warrant at Eiland’s residence and located approximately 22.5 pounds of marijuana. Jenkins and Eiland and two co-conspirators, Shawn Thomas and Julio Ayala, were all present. Thomas and Ayala have also pleaded guilty to being part of the marijuana conspiracy and are pending sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, the Bellevue Police Department, and the Sacramento California County Sheriff’s Department.
Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Taylor Brown, 34, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, and Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Brown to 63 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
From February 2019, through May 2019, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine from Tina Smith and Taylor Brown for a total of 28 grams. In addition, cooperating witnesses indicated that they purchased four to five ounces from Brown.
Smith was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCook Police Department.
South Dakota Woman Sentenced to Ten Years for Possession of Drugs and FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kylah Whiting, 21, of Winner, South Dakota, was sentenced on April 28, 2023, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a total term of 10 years’ imprisonment following her conviction for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. After she completes her prison sentence, Whiting will also serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Whiting pleaded guilty to both offenses on January 25, 2023.
On October 17, 2021, a Butler County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Whiting. Whiting refused to stop and a highspeed chase ensued for the next 14 miles. Whiting lost control of the vehicle and wrecked. The vehicle driven by Whiting flipped over and was upside down as officers approached. Two occupants were seen attempting to climb out of the vehicle. Whiting told police there was a gun in the car. A sheriff’s deputy then spotted a Smith & Wesson handgun near the driver’s door. Whiting told police the handgun, as well as a backpack inside the vehicle, were hers. Whiting and her passenger were transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Police searched the car. Whiting’s backpack was found to contain two more firearms, a purse, numerous small baggies which are commonly used to package drugs for resale, four additional baggies containing approximately 293 grams of methamphetamine, and a digital scale. Police also found additional evidence in and around the vehicle consistent with drug distribution.
This case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Brian Norman, 52, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 28, 2023, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. After he completes his prison sentence, Norman will serve seven years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On January 4, 2022, an individual working with law enforcement purchased cocaine from Norman. Following the sale, investigators contacted Norman in the front passenger seat of a car that was parked in a parking lot of a Lincoln business. Investigators found cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA tablets, hydrocodone tablets, and suspected LSD in a bag located at Norman’s feet. Investigators also located numerous baggies, a digital scale, and other drug paraphernalia consistent with drug distribution.
Investigators found about one and a half pounds of methamphetamine in two bags in Norman’s coat pockets. He also had $816 cash in his pocket. The methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab where a forensic scientist found the methamphetamine to be 99% pure resulting in at least 630 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Omaha Police Department.
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Donovan Shaw, 29, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by way of robbery with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. Shaw’s co-defendant, Leonard Hatten, was convicted following a jury trial in March and is awaiting sentencing. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Shaw to 112 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Shaw pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a Family Dollar store and robbing a Bucky’s gas station at gunpoint in Omaha. Shaw was also sentenced for robbing a Kwik Shop, a second Bucky’s location, a Tobacco Hut, and a Sergeant Peffer’s restaurant in Omaha. Shaw was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,073.41.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jeremy M. Boyd, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for receipt and distribution and of child pornography. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Boyd to imprisonment for 102 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Boyd will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Boyd must also pay an assessment of $1,500 to victims of child pornography offenses.
On April 6, 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded a CyberTip to the Nebraska Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Lincoln, Nebraska. The CyberTip was received by NCMEC from MediaLab/Kik on February 27, 2020. Kik is a freeware instant messaging mobile app available for use on cell phones. According to the report, a Kik user uploaded several video files depicting child pornography. An investigator reviewed the video files and confirmed they depicted child pornography.
Investigators used the Kik account information to obtain the suspect’s internet protocol (IP) address, which led them to Boyd’s residential address. Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the residence on July 2, 2020. Three devices (a black gaming computer, an LG Tribute smartphone, and a Lexar USB flash drive) were seized. Investigators interviewed Boyd, who made admissions about receiving and viewing child pornography and having previously used the Kik app. A forensic examination of the gaming computer yielded 16 additional digital videos depicting child pornography. At least one video depicts the sexual abuse or exploitation of a 3- to 5-year-old female.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the Nebraska Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Alliance Woman Sentenced for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tiffany Davis, 40, of Alliance, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Davis to 51 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Davis will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
On November 5, 2021, officers pulled over Davis’s car in Alliance. Officers executed a search warrant on the car and located approximately 44 grams of actual methamphetamine in Davis’s purse. Davis was intending to distribute the methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office.Omaha Woman Sentenced to 168 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine within 1,000 Feet of a City ParkRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Gianetta Lynn Middleton, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha on April 25, 2023, for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location. United States District Brian C. Buescher sentenced Middleton to 168 months’ imprisonment. She was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after her release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Between September 1, 2021, and November 23, 2021, Middleton and others conspired to distribute 168 grams of methamphetamine from her apartment in Fremont, Nebraska. During this time period, Middleton sold methamphetamine multiple times from her apartment, which is located across the street from a city park.
This case was investigated by the Fremont Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 293 Months for Role in Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Gilberto Aguilar-Beltran, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. A federal jury found Aguilar-Beltran guilty of both counts of the Superseding Indictment on January 27, 2023. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Aguilar-Beltran to imprisonment for a term of 293 months as to each count, to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Aguilar-Beltran may later face removal (deportation) from the United States to Mexico by immigration authorities.
On May 12, 2021, Omaha Police observed Aguilar-Beltran, driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee, meet up with two people driving a black SUV at a Taco Bell on South 42nd Street. A male from the black SUV got into Aguilar-Beltran’s Jeep and they briefly drove around before returning to the Taco Bell. The male returned to the black SUV and departed at the same time as the Jeep. Omaha Police stopped the black SUV, and after completing a canine sniff of the exterior, they searched it. Officers recovered approximately one pound of meth and arrested the driver and passenger.
Following this apparent drug transaction, OPD detectives gathered additional evidence of Aguilar-Beltran’s involvement in methamphetamine distribution. Ultimately, on July 15, 2021, officers executed a search warrant at Aguilar-Beltran’s home, locating distribution quantities of methamphetamine, cash, a digital scale, and packaging materials consistent with drug trafficking.
Investigators further determined through deconfliction and cooperation with federal investigative agencies that Aguilar-Beltran’s activities in furtherance of drug trafficking extended beyond methamphetamine distribution. A cooperating witness testified at trial that Aguilar-Beltran collected thousands of dollars in proceeds from methamphetamine sales for the organization. Additional witnesses testified that Aguilar-Beltran allowed the detached garage at his residence to be used over a period of several years for the regular off-loading of dozens of pounds of methamphetamine from a “trap” car that had been driven repeatedly to Omaha from the southwest border. The methamphetamine from the trap car was intended for distribution in Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of a Minor by ForceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that James Ferman Chatman, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for sex trafficking of a minor by force. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chatman to 324 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Chatman will serve 10 years of supervised release. Chatman was also ordered to pay $1,300 in restitution. Chatman will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Law enforcement began investigating in September 2021 after receiving information from FBI Innocence Lost that a missing 17-year-old female was actively being advertised online for commercial sex in Omaha. Investigators located and contacted the minor female who advised that she was being forced to engage in commercial sex sales by a person known to her as “James Cooper.” The minor stated that “James” kept all of the money received from sex buyers. The minor reported that she had been sexually assaulted by “James” and that “James” had been providing her with cocaine. Evidence uncovered by law enforcement showed James Ferman Chatman had created online commercial sex ads depicting the minor female in addition to ads depicting other females. After the minor was recovered, Chatman continued to post commercial sex ads in various states across the county. In November 2021, investigators learned that Chatman had returned to a hotel in Omaha. Investigators arrested Chatman at the hotel. Also staying in the hotel room was an adult female who advised that she was being sold for sex by Chatman and that Chatman used violence and threats of violence to keep her engaging in commercial sex sales.
In 2019, Chatman was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Acts with a 16–17 Year Old in Leon County, Florida. Chatman had not registered as a sex offender in Nebraska after leaving Florida.
"The FBI remains resolute in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and bringing child predators to justice. We value and recognize the critical work of our law enforcement partners. As with many crimes we investigate, we cannot do it without collaboration from the law enforcement community and the public," said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the Omaha Field Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Nebraska Man Sentenced for Escape from Federal Reentry CenterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Aaron Jason Burkholder, 46, of Nebraska, was sentenced today to 18 months for escape from a federal reentry center by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Burkholder will serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In December of 2021, Burkholder was serving a prior federal sentence for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual. He was transferred from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) in Kearney, Nebraska, to finish serving the remainder of his sentence and was scheduled for release in November of 2022. However, on June 28, 2022, Burkholder escaped from the custody of the RRC by cutting off his GPS ankle monitor after being ordered to return to the RRC due to rules violations. Attempts by RRC staff to contact Burkholder were unsuccessful and he was placed on escape status. He was arrested on a federal warrant on October 18, 2022. Burkholder’s RRC placement on his previous federal sentence was revoked, and he is scheduled to complete his incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons on that sentence in April of 2024.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Firearm ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Anthony Jose Franco, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Franco received a sentence of 120 months’ imprisonment with a five-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
In August 2022, Franco became the subject of a DEA investigation for his role in distributing fentanyl in Omaha. On August 5, 2022, an undercover agent purchased 21.3 grams of fentanyl directly from Franco. A second undercover buy on August 24, 2022, resulted in 29.3 grams of fentanyl being purchased. On September 9, 2022, Franco was arrested while delivering 58.7 grams of fentanyl to the undercover agent. That same day, a search warrant was executed at the residence in which Franco was staying. More than 326 fentanyl pills with venue to Franco and an AK-47 assault rifle were seized.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Computer IntrusionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jonathan Manzi, 31, currently of Beverly, Massachusetts, was sentenced on April 20, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for obtaining information from a protected computer. Manzi was sentenced to 18 months in prison and will also serve a year on supervised release. Manzi was also ordered to pay $655,000 in restitution.
Manzi was an owner and co-founder of Ink Labs, Inc., a business that specialized in technology to permit its customers and users to upload materials to “the cloud” and then print those uploaded materials at an Ink Labs “kiosk” or other printing location for a fee. The majority of Ink Labs’ customers are colleges and universities. One of Ink Labs competitors in this market was Wepa, Inc., a business located in Pelham, Alabama. The victim identified in the investigation worked at Ink Labs until February, 2017, when he resigned from his position. The victim later took a job at Wepa, Inc. as a regional sales representative.
In June, 2017, while traveling abroad with his family in Spain, the victim received notifications from both Google regarding his Gmail account and from his cellular provider, AT&T. These notifications made the victim aware that someone had been attempting to access his device and accounts. While still in Spain, the victim’s cellular phone lost service. He contacted AT&T and was told that he had requested that his phone number be moved to a Samsung device. The victim informed AT&T that he had not authorized this change and asked that his number be moved back to his phone. On this same day the victim also noticed that he was unable to log into his Gmail account using his credentials.
Evidence established that on July 1, 2017, Manzi accessed the victim’s Google email account without authorization. Additionally, Manzi impersonated the victim to AT&T to gain control over the victim’s phone. Once gaining control, Manzi was able to access the information contained in files and applications on the Google accounts, including access to the victim’s email account and web-based applications. Manzi then was able to obtain the victim’s login credentials for the Dropbox account for Wepa, Inc., which Manzi then used to access files belonging to Wepa.
In July, 2017, Manzi again accessed Wepa’s Dropbox account using the victim’s Google account and changed the password of the victim’s Dropbox account. Once Manzi accessed the Wepa, Inc. Dropbox account, Manzi was again able to access information of Wepa, Inc., including customer information.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Connie Robinson, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Robinson to 192 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On April 14, 2022, a Lincoln Police Department officer was on duty checking hotels in Lincoln. The officer saw a black Ford sedan sitting in a hotel lot. The license plate on the vehicle did not match that vehicle. The officer stopped and made contact with the vehicle. Robinson, who was in the front passenger seat, rolled down the window for the officer. The officer smelled marijuana odor coming from the vehicle. Another officer arrived on the scene, and the vehicle was searched. The second officer opened a fanny pack where Robinson had been seated and found a pipe, baggies, a scale, and about 98 grams of actual methamphetamine. Officers also found about 2.4 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in a sunglass case on the driver’s side. Robinson was arrested and taken to jail. While there, she made an excited utterance that the case was hers.
Robinson had a prior conviction for delivery of a controlled substance which raised the mandatory minimum sentence in this case from 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.
Omaha Woman Sentenced to 150 Months for MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tracy Inman, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Inman to 150 months in prison for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). After serving her sentence, Inman will be placed on supervised release for 5 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On or about September 12, 2020, in Omaha, officers with the Omaha Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a minivan driven by Inman due to the vehicle having no plates and no visible in-transits. While officers were conducting a data check and drafting a citation, canine officers arrived and deployed a state-certified drug-detection canine around Inman’s vehicle. The canine indicated to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found small baggies containing methamphetamine residue, a tin containing 3.1 grams of methamphetamine mixture, and paraphernalia. Officers searched Inman and found 49.684 grams of methamphetamine. In a backpack on the back seat of the vehicle, officers found an additional 72.172 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale. At the time of the traffic stop, Inman knew the methamphetamine was in the vehicle and she intended to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to another person.
Subsequent Nebraska Public Service Laboratory lab tests confirmed the suspected methamphetamine found in Inman’s vehicle was methamphetamine and had a weight of 121.856 grams. The lab tests determined the recovered methamphetamine had a purity of 95%, for a minimum amount of actual methamphetamine of 109.67 grams
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Matthew Carlson, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Carlson to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system. After his release from prison, Carlson will be on supervised release for life.
In November 2021, federal agents began investigating after receiving a Cybertip from Dropbox stating that a user had uploaded child pornography. Agents contacted Carlson who admitted to receiving a link, accessing the Dropbox account, and viewing child pornography. Carlson had two prior convictions for possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 22 ½ Years in Prison for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Franklin Rorebeck, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 270 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Rorebeck will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In late July of 2021, Rorebeck sold cocaine which turned out to be laced with fentanyl to one of his customers in Lincoln. Rorebeck’s customer sold the cocaine laced with fentanyl to a third person. The third person provided the drug to a victim who suffered an overdose on July 25, 2021. First responders performed CPR on the victim and administered Narcan. The victim was hospitalized. During a search of the victim’s Lincoln residence, officers found a small white rock on a table next to the bed which tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. A physician specializing in emergency room medicine and toxicology found the victim would have been at substantial risk of dying from the use of cocaine laced with fentanyl if they had not received the Narcan.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Taskforce.
Grand Jury - April 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 9 unsealed Indictments charging 9 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Anthony Jermaine Branch, age 41, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about October 28, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Steville D. Burns, age 32, of Omaha, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams of fentanyl on or about March 23, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Jose Cerritos-Valdez, age 47, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after a felony conviction beginning on or about February 23, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Benjamin Fuller, age 37, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine (actual) to a minor on or about October 18, 2021 and continuing to on or about October 22, 2021. The penalty if convicted is not less than 1 year and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, a six-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Patrick Hoshor, age 26, of Omaha, is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death on or about March 31, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 20 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Amikhet En Maati a/k/a Warren Coker, age 51, is charged in a five-count Indictment. Count I charges Maati with production of child pornography beginning on or about October 8, 2020 and continuing to on or about October 28, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 35 years’ and not more than life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than a five-year and up to life term of supervised release, and $55,100 in special assessments. Count II charges Maati with committing Count I while on the sex offender registry beginning on or about October 8, 2020 and continuing to on or about October 28, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than a five-year and up to life term of supervised release, and $55,100 in special assessments. Count III charges Maati with production of child pornography on or about October 28, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 35 years’ and not more than life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than a five-year and up to life term of supervised release, and $55,100 in special assessments. Count IV charges Maati with committing Count III while on the sex offender registry beginning on or about October 28, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than a five-year and up to life term of supervised release, and $55,100 in special assessments. Count V charges Maati with possession of child pornography on or about September 9, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than a five-year and up to life term of supervised release, and $22,100 in special assessments.
* Chol Magwit, age 20, of Omaha, is charged with interference with airport security screening personnel beginning on or about April 7, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Tobin R. Schaneman, age 45, is charged as a prohibited person (felon) in possession of a firearm on or about March 25, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
* Dante Stabler, age 22, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Stabler with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation on or about February 22, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Stabler with using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on or about February 22, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Four Men Indicted in Public Corruption CasesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the unsealing of two related indictments. The indictments were unsealed after this morning’s arrests of Omaha City Councilman Vincent J. Palermo, 49, Former Omaha Police Officer Johnny Palermo, 47, Former Omaha Police Captain and Former PACE Executive Director Richard Gonzalez, 55, and Jack Olson, 66, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The indictments were returned by the Grand Jury this week in Omaha, Nebraska. The indictments are comprised of multiple counts. Each count is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
In the first indictment (4:23CR3051), Johnny Palermo, Gonzalez, and Olson are charged with defrauding donors of the Latino Peace Officers’ Association (“LPOA”), and the LPOA board. Johnny Palermo and Gonzalez are further charged with defrauding LPOA and Police Athletics for Community Engagement (“PACE”) for their own personal benefit. Palermo is separately charged with wire fraud through an alleged false application to obtain a “Paycheck Protection Program” or PPP loan through his purported real estate company, Palermo Investments, LLC. Palermo is also charged with making false statements to the Small Business Administration in an attempt to get an Economic Injury and Disaster or EIDL loan.
Palermo is further charged with defrauding the citizens of Nebraska and the Omaha Police Department of his honest services as a police officer by accepting a stream of financial benefits from Gonzalez and Olson that influenced Palermo to interfere with an ongoing sexual assault investigation for which Olson is the lead suspect.
In the second indictment (4:23CR3052), Johnny Palermo and Gonzalez are charged with conspiring with Omaha City Councilman Vincent J. Palermo to deprive the citizens of Nebraska of Councilman Palermo’s honest services through paid travel benefits, including a luxury hotel suite, a trip to Las Vegas, and other destinations, among other items of value in exchange for Vincent J. Palermo’s official acts done for the benefit of LPOA and PACE. Johnny Palermo was the President of LPOA and Gonzalez was the Executive Director of PACE and a member of LPOA. Councilman Palermo awarded money to both non-profits and failed to disclose the private benefits that he was receiving while taking official acts for the benefit of LPOA and PACE.
Vincent J. Palermo is further charged with failing to disclose personal benefits, including income, gifts, and other items of value that he received from Omaha Glass Pro, a company that he voted to award city contracts to during the charged timeframes, along with failing to disclose discounted concrete work to his backyard pool that was poured by a concrete contractor that also had contracts with the City of Omaha.
Finally, Vincent J. Palermo is alleged to have concealed his status on federal probation when he applied for a PPP loan for approximately $68,000 that was later forgiven, which money went to the benefit of his sole proprietorship, Vinny’s Tree Service, and for his personal benefit.
Johnny Palermo faces 15 charges in both indictments. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, each in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1346; and making false statements on loan applications, punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014.
Jack Olson is alleged to have solicited funds for LPOA using the false identity of "Cody Jones." Olson is charged with a total of four violations of public law, to include aiding and abetting Officer Johnny Palmero's honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1346, 1343, and 2 ; conspiracy to defraud LPOA donors and the LPOA, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349: and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, each in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
Gonzalez faces a total of 13 charges in both indictments. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, both punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, each in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; aiding and abetting the honest services fraud of Officer Johnny Palermo, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1346, 1343, and 2; and making false statements on loan applications, punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014.
Councilman Palermo is charged with nine separate violations of federal law, to include conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; honest services fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1846 and 1843; wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and bank fraud, punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.
United States Attorney Russell noted that the indictments and today’s arrests send an important message to those who breach the public’s trust. He added, “I appreciate the tremendous work of the Omaha Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement on this important case.”
After the arrests, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Public corruption is a top criminal priority for the FBI. Special Agents from the FBI Omaha field office, with the cooperation of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, worked hundreds of hours on the investigation that led to today’s arrests. We especially appreciate our partnership with the Omaha Police Department in this case. Corruption tears at the foundation of our democracy. No level of corruption should be tolerated or accepted.”
Each of the defendants will make their initial appearance on Monday at 1 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Colorado Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Yadira Chavarria-Enriquez, 44, of Colorado, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Robinson to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a four-year term of supervised release. She will also forfeit $26,008 in U.S. currency to the United States.
On March 18, 2022, Chavarria-Enriquez was stopped for a traffic violation in Furnas County, Nebraska. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and $26,008 in U.S. currency.
This case was investigated by the Furnas County, Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Elmer Rene Hernandez-Hernandez, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 19, 2023, by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Hernandez-Hernandez received a sentence of 210 months’ imprisonment with a four-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. Hernandez-Hernandez also forfeited $13,400 that was seized as part of the investigation.
On March 18, 2021, the DEA Criminal Interdiction Unit, while working at the United States Post Office in Omaha, intercepted a package containing 3,242 grams of methamphetamine. The package was destined to an address in Omaha. A controlled delivery of the package was completed to the listed address, and Kenneth Flowers accepted the package at the residence. Flowers was then monitored as he exited out his backdoor and walked up the street to deliver the package to the residence of Hernandez-Hernandez. Flowers was arrested after delivering the package.
A search warrant was obtained for Hernandez-Hernandez’s residence. Inside, officers found various small amounts of illicit drugs (cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana), $13,400, and some firearms. One of the firearms was stolen.
Flowers was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment on April 6, 2023 for his role in receiving the package for Hernandez-Hernandez.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Mexican National Sentenced to More than 12 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bartolo Roman-Tapia, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 19, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Roman-Tapia to 151 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison he will be subject to deportation. He was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release.
On June 22, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant on a South Omaha apartment. Special Agents encountered Roman-Tapia locked inside the lone apartment bedroom. Within that bedroom Special Agents discovered 28 one-pound packages of methamphetamine, $18,754 in narcotics proceeds, two cellular telephones, a scale, money remitter receipts and drug payment ledger, apartment keys, and a wallet with Roman-Tapia's identification. The $18,754 was previously forfeited to the United States as proceeds from narcotics trafficking.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dylan Roberts, 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Roberts to 240 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Roberts will be placed on supervised release for 4 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 18, 2021, Roberts distributed cocaine to an individual at a residence in Lincoln. The individual used that substance in his vehicle outside his residence. Shortly thereafter, he lost consciousness. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found the victim lying on the ground outside his home. The victim was transported to the hospital, was administered Narcan to reverse the effects of the overdose, and ultimately survived. Law enforcement seized the remainder of the substance sold by Roberts from the victim’s vehicle. A lab determined that the substance contained cocaine and fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Taskforce.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Michael Dale Bouwens, 69, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Bouwens was sentenced to 84 months in prison and will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After serving his prison sentence, Bouwens will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In May of 2021, law enforcement reviewed a cybertip regarding suspected child pornography. The IP address on the cybertip was traced to a residence in Lincoln belonging to Bouwens.
A search warrant was executed on Bouwens’s residence and he was interviewed by law enforcement. He admitted that he had an interest in child pornography and used his laptop to search for child pornography online. He said he had last downloaded child pornography a couple days prior to the interview. A forensic review of several of the devices seized from Bouwens’s home contained approximately 19,666 files that qualify as child pornography and 262 videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Oakland Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Misuse of Public FundsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Terry A. Poland, 33, of Fremont, Nebraska, was arraigned and pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Michael D. Nelson, United States Magistrate Judge, to Misuse of Public Funds. Poland further agreed that he has or will surrender his law enforcement certification before the date set for sentencing, and that he will not work as a law enforcement officer in the future. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2023 before Magistrate Judge Nelson.
During February 2020 to January 2021, Poland purchased about 27 gift cards in four transactions from a sporting goods store operating in Nebraska, using the charge account that the City of Oakland had at the store. The total value of the gift cards that Poland acquired with Oakland’s funds was $14,631.00.
Poland used the gift cards to acquire items for the use of himself and family members. Poland purchased among other things women’s and children’s clothing, an ice fishing house, an auger, fishing equipment and a basketball backboard. Poland acquired the basketball backboard on or about March 22, 2020, in the amount of $949.99. Poland made most purchases using the gift cards at store locations in Nebraska but made at least one purchase online.
An outside auditor questioned the acquisition of the gift cards. At the request of the outside auditor, the Oakland City Clerk requested additional receipts from Poland. Poland stated that all the gift cards were used to purchase ammunition for the Oakland Police Department and provided to the City Clerk five purported receipts, each captioned “Purchase Statement.” Each Purchase Statement was purportedly from the store and reflected the purchase of ammunition on a particular date during August 2020 to January 2021.
The Purchase Statements that Poland provided to the City Clerk were phony. They were not issued by the store, and the transactions, item numbers and item descriptions did not match the store’s records.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
California Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Alejandro Berrelleza-Bojorquez, 25, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on April 14, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Berrelleza-Bojorquez to 76 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. After completing his sentence, Berrelleza-Bojorquez will be placed on supervised release for 4 years. Berrelleza-Bojorquez faces deportation from the United States following the service of his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
On March 7, 2022, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Berrelleza-Bojorquez on Interstate 80 in Dawson County for speeding. His co-defendant, Orlando Castro-Gutierrez, was the passenger. The trooper smelled marijuana odor emanating from the vehicle, and the vehicle was searched. In the trunk, law enforcement found 10 triple-wrapped bags under clothing. Those bags contained about 10,000 pills. Law enforcement also found in the trunk 15 zip-lock baggies in a paper sack that contained about 15,000 pills. The vehicle was towed, and both men were arrested. Upon further search after the tow, law enforcement found a 1 kilogram-sized brick in a box in the trunk. Sample pills from the 10 wrapped bags were tested at the state lab, and the lab confirmed that they contained fentanyl. The pills in those ten wrapped bags weighed over one kilogram. Sample pills from the 15 zip-lock baggies were tested at the lab, and the lab determined they contained para-fluorofentanyl, a schedule I substance and analogue of fentanyl. The pills from those 15 baggies weighed about one and a half kilograms. The brick was tested at the lab as well, and the lab confirmed it contained fentanyl.
Castro-Gutierrez is scheduled to plead guilty on May 3, 2023, in Lincoln.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Ossie Bradley, 52, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. After he completes his prison sentence, Bradley will also serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 17, 2021, Bradley was stopped for a traffic violation by a Lincoln Police officer as Bradley was traveling on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County. The officer could smell the odor of burnt marijuana as he approached the car. The officer asked Bradley to come back to his patrol car to receive a traffic warning. Before Bradley entered the patrol car, the officer performed a pat-down search. During the pat-down, the officer located a handgun tucked in a small holster around Bradley’s waist. The firearm, a Ruger LCP II .380 caliber pistol, had six rounds in the magazine and came back as stolen out of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Bradley was prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple prior felony convictions, the last of which was for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Minnesota.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Nebraska Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Douglas Schmidt, 40, of Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Schmidt to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
On April 20, 2021, Hastings Police Department conducted a traffic stop. Schmidt’s co-defendant, Raquel Bloom, was the driver, and the passenger initially said his name was “Doug Wilson” but was later identified as Douglas Schmidt. Schmidt had an active warrant out of Merrick County and was detained. Law enforcement could smell a distinct odor of marijuana coming from a backpack from behind the driver’s seat. Bloom claimed the backpack was Schmidt’s. A search of the backpack located 426 grams of methamphetamine, 80 grams of marijuana, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Bloom has pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and is scheduled for sentencing on May 17, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Hastings Police Department.
California Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Pharmaceutical Drugs & for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jamal D. Holdman, 27, of California, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiring to distribute pharmaceutical controlled substances and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Holdman to imprisonment for 65 months. Upon release from prison Holdman will be required to complete a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In the fall of 2019 investigators accessed an online dark net marketplace called “Empire Market” where they observed vendor “norco_king” advertising the sale of pharmaceutical controlled substances such as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. Over the course of the investigation, investigators made a series of controlled buys of pharmaceutical controlled substances from norco_king on the dark net using an undercover identity. Norco_king accepted payment via Bitcoin and later Monero, both cryptocurrencies. The parcels containing the drugs were mailed from California to an undercover address in Omaha, Nebraska. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the originating post offices in the vicinity of Desert Hot Springs, California, and identified Jamal Holdman as a suspect.
On June 21, 2021, investigators served a warrant to search Holdman’s residence in Desert Hot Springs. Upon searching the residence, investigators seized approximately 21,000 pills including a significant number of pharmaceutical controlled substances in Holdman’s bedroom including opioids Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Morphine Sulfate, Hydromorphone, Tapentadol, Methadone, and Tramadol, several amphetamines including Lisdexamfetamine (commercially known as Vyvanse), and several benzodiazepines such as Lorazepam and Alprazolam. In addition, investigators seized 420 pressed “M30” pills, as well as postal service priority mailboxes and pre-paid labels for orders to include one that was addressed to be shipped to Nebraska. Although the color and markings on the “M30” tablets indicated they contained Oxycodone, they were later confirmed through laboratory testing to contain Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Investigators also seized two firearms from Holdman’s bedroom near where the drugs were kept.
Holdman told investigators that he packaged and shipped the controlled substances and named Nicolas Decosta as the supplier of the drugs and dark net site vendor. Investigators corroborated this information and arrested Decosta, who will be sentenced on June 1, 2023.
This case was investigated by the United State Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.