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Two Lincoln Men Convicted for Drug Charges, Nebraska 2025
A federal jury in Lincoln, Nebraska, has found two men guilty of drug charges. Olen Warner, 51, and Ernesto Leyva, 36, both of Lincoln, were convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogue.
Warner was also found guilty of distributing a mixture or substance containing any fentanyl analogue and a mixture of substance containing fentanyl.
Leyva was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and heroin.
The verdict subjects Warner to a potential prison term of up to life and a minimum of ten years for count one and a potential prison term of up to 40 years and a minimum of five years for count two.
The verdict subjects Leyva to a potential prison term of up to life and a minimum of ten years.
United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis presided over the trial and set sentencing as to both defendants for July 17, 2025.
Olen Warner was involved in drug trafficking meth and fentanyl in Lincoln and the District of Nebraska since at least October 2019.
Ernesto Leyva was involved in the distribution of fentanyl, pills and powder, and heroin in the Lincoln area since 2021.
He also trafficked in meth.
Co-defendant Danna Hespen, who had pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge, had been involved in the distribution of meth in the Lincoln area since at least 2021.
She mainly dealt in meth but would also occasionally sell fentanyl and heroin.
The three began working together in earnest shortly after Hespen got out of jail in November of 2022.
Phone records show that the trio was working together by December 2022.
From December 2022 until July 2023 the three worked together to sell meth, fentanyl, and heroin.
Warner brought meth and fentanyl from Colorado to Hespen, Leyva, and others, in Lincoln to distribute.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Warner brought pounds of meth and thousands of M30 pills to Lincoln for Hespen and Leyva to sell.
Warner made trips to Colorado about once a week to pick up the drugs for Hespen and Leyva.
Hespen and Leyva were dating and were often involved in transactions together.
Hespen sold most of the meth and Leyva sold most of the M30 pills.
They made sales together and occasionally sold each other’s product on the other’s behalf.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force.
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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