LINCOLN, NE – Jennilee Janae Velez, 22, of Addison, Illinois, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced Monday for her role in a cross-country drug trafficking operation. U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced Velez received 42 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of oxycodone. There’s no parole in the federal system; Velez will also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after she’s released from custody.
The bust went down October 1, 2022, on Interstate 80 in Seward County, Nebraska. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper spotted two nearly identical black Mercedes SUVs, both sporting Illinois plates, traveling eastbound. The trooper pulled over one of the SUVs, driven by Velez, with passenger Mia Williams. The other SUV, in a blatant attempt to evade law enforcement, sped off, but was quickly apprehended by a Saline County deputy working with the Seward County Task Force.
A search of both vehicles revealed a substantial quantity of narcotics. In Velez’s SUV, authorities discovered over 16 pounds of cocaine and 393 oxycodone pills. The second SUV, driven by Samantha Francisco with passenger Julany Rivera, yielded an even larger haul: more than 24 pounds of cocaine and 66 oxycodone pills. Both Williams and Francisco initially admitted to possessing marijuana, which led to the broader search.
Investigators quickly pieced together the operation’s scope. Searches of Velez’s and Francisco’s phones revealed the four women had made a round trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. In L.A., unnamed individuals loaded the SUVs with the massive drug shipment. They were headed back to Chicago when law enforcement intervened, cutting short their attempt to flood the streets with poison.
Mia Williams, Samantha Francisco, and Julany Rivera were all charged alongside Velez in the same indictment, and their cases are still pending. Federal prosecutors haven’t ruled out further charges against those who supplied the drugs in Los Angeles. This operation highlights the brazen nature of interstate drug trafficking and the relentless work of law enforcement to stem the flow of illicit substances.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Nebraska State Patrol, the Seward County Sheriff’s Department, the Saline County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Grimy Times will continue to follow the pending cases of Williams, Francisco, and Rivera, and report any further developments in this ongoing investigation.
Related Federal Cases
- Vegas Man Gets 21 Months in Illinois Cocaine Ring · Illinois
- Chicago Woman Sentenced for 16 Pounds of Cocaine · Illinois
- Illinois Man Sentenced for Transporting $438,881 in Drug Money · Illinois
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Google Hit with Antitrust Win in New York AG’s Suit · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News