Bellevue Dealer Lopez Gets 5+ Years in Gun & Xanax Case

OMAHA, NE – Carlos O. Lopez, 29, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is headed to federal prison after a sting operation caught him peddling Xanax and a loaded handgun. U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced the sentencing today, a clear message that dealing drugs and illegally carrying firearms won’t be tolerated in this state.

Lopez received a total of 63 months behind bars – 3 months for distributing Alprazolam pills and a hefty 60 months tacked on for the firearm charge. Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down the consecutive sentences, meaning Lopez will serve them one after the other. Forget parole; the federal system doesn’t offer it. Once released, Lopez will face a three-year supervised release for each charge, running concurrently.

The bust went down on January 15, 2020, in Bellevue. An undercover informant, wired for sound and video, purchased 50 Alprazolam pills – a Schedule IV controlled substance requiring a prescription – and a Ruger .380 handgun, complete with live ammunition, directly from Lopez. Law enforcement watched the entire transaction unfold, building an airtight case.

Alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, is a powerful anti-anxiety medication with a high potential for abuse. Combining that with an illegally possessed firearm is a recipe for disaster, and law enforcement acted swiftly to remove Lopez from the streets. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department.

This case isn’t just about one man; it’s part of the larger Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement, along with community partners, to tackle violent crime and gun violence head-on. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention programs, and strategically prioritizing enforcement.

The message is clear: the feds are coming down hard on those who profit from the misery of others and put public safety at risk. Lopez’s sentence serves as a stark warning to anyone else thinking of following in his footsteps – the Grimy Times will be watching, and so will the law.