Shawndell L. Burke, 42, with no permanent address, was hit with 14 years in federal prison for her role in a sprawling methamphetamine distribution ring that flooded the streets of Lincoln between 2013 and 2017. The sentence, handed down on February 9, 2018, marks a significant takedown in the ongoing battle against synthetic drug trafficking in Nebraska’s capital city.
Burke was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, a charge stemming from her involvement in trafficking at least 5 kilograms—roughly 11 pounds—of meth mixture and no less than 150 grams of pure meth. The operation stretched over four years, during which Burke helped orchestrate the flow of poison through neighborhoods already ravaged by addiction and overdose.
The final nail came on April 21, 2017, when Lincoln Police executed a search warrant at a residence where Burke was staying. Inside her bedroom, officers uncovered 76 grams of pure methamphetamine, stashed and ready for distribution. The find confirmed what investigators had long suspected: Burke wasn’t just a user—she was a supplier.
Federal prosecutors, led by Acting United States Attorney Robert C. Stuart, pushed for maximum accountability. In addition to the 168-month sentence, Burke will serve five years under supervised release—subject to drug testing, travel restrictions, and the watchful eye of federal probation officers.
But Burke isn’t the only one facing justice. Rodney P. Mazzulla, her co-defendant in the conspiracy, remains on the hook. His trial is scheduled for March 2018, and federal authorities are expected to present evidence tying him directly to the supply chain that fed Lincoln’s meth epidemic.
The case was cracked open by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, whose relentless surveillance and coordination with federal agencies dismantled a network that had operated under the radar for years. Authorities warn that drug conspiracies like this one don’t end with a single sentencing—but Burke’s prison term sends a clear message: the feds are closing in.
Related Federal Cases
- Beatrice Woman Gets 9 Years for Meth Conspiracy · Nebraska
- Omaha Woman Gets 10 Years for Meth Conspiracy in Iowa · Iowa
- Lincoln Man Gets 10 Years for Meth Conspiracy · Nebraska
- Andrew Tucker-Moreno Gets 12 Years for Meth Conspiracy · Iowa
- Scottsbluff Man Guel Gets 63 Months for Meth Conspiracy · Nebraska
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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