A Grand Island man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his role in distributing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Elias Mendoza, 25, of Grand Island, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for each of the three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and 120 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentences will be served concurrently.
U.S. Attorney Joe Kelly announced the sentencing, which took place on February 5, 2021, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard handed down the sentences.
Mendoza will also serve five years on supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The charges against Mendoza stem from three sales of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in August of 2019. The total quantity of all sales amounted to approximately 140 grams of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was tested by the Nebraska State Patrol lab at 99% purity.
On August 20, 2019, Mendoza sold the same confidential informant a handgun. As a convicted felon, Mendoza is prevented from possessing a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from multiple law enforcement agencies, including 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 FBI.
Related Federal Cases
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- Tiffany Alice Wolfe, Methamphetamine Distribution, Nebraska 2017 · Nebraska
- Lisa Marie Booton, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, Nebraska · Nebraska
- Jocelyn Mendoza, Methamphetamine Distribution, California 2023 · Nebraska
- Michael Bentley, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, Nebraska · Nebraska
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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