Kansas Meth Dealer Cody Rhyne Gets 12 Years

FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA – Cody Rhyne, 32, of Hiawatha, Kansas, is facing a long stretch behind bars after a high-speed chase and drug bust landed him a 144-month federal sentence. United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced the sentencing, handed down by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher on August 26, 2020. Rhyne will also serve a three-year term of supervised release after his prison term, though federal inmates are ineligible for parole.

The trouble began December 4, 2019, when Rhyne drove into Falls City, Nebraska, allegedly to peddle narcotics. According to court documents, Rhyne completed a sale of approximately half an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in the parking lot of a Shopko store. But when law enforcement attempted to pull him over, Rhyne floored it, initiating a reckless pursuit that put lives at risk.

Officers engaged in a chase that quickly escalated, with Rhyne’s vehicle reaching speeds of 105 MPH. He blatantly disregarded traffic laws, blowing through three stop signs and a traffic control device. The pursuit became particularly dangerous when Rhyne swerved in front of a semi-truck at the intersection of HWY#8 and HWY#75, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic collision. The chase only ended when Rhyne’s Cadillac ran out of gas south of Humboldt, Nebraska, forcing him to abandon the vehicle and attempt to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended.

A search of Rhyne’s vehicle revealed a disturbing arsenal: a Taurus 9mm handgun, a loaded magazine with 9mm hollow point rounds, digital scales, and nearly 300 grams (299.734 grams, to be exact) of lab-confirmed methamphetamine. The quantity suggests Rhyne wasn’t just a small-time dealer. He was moving serious weight.

Following his arrest, Rhyne waived his Miranda rights and admitted to selling ten grams of methamphetamine and a .22 caliber rifle to the same informant. He also confessed to having plans to distribute even more of the deadly drug. The evidence painted a clear picture of a man actively engaged in a dangerous and illegal enterprise, willing to risk public safety for profit.

This case was a key component of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national initiative launched in 2001 by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime and bolstering community safety. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation, demonstrating a concerted effort to dismantle drug trafficking operations and remove dangerous individuals like Cody Rhyne from the streets. Rhyne’s sentence serves as a harsh reminder that dealing drugs with a firearm carries severe consequences in the federal system.