Drug Task Force Operation Leads to 19 Arrests

Acting United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that on January 23, 2024, an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Nebraska State Patrol led to the arrest of 19 people and the unsealing of at least nine indictments. Those arrested and a summary of their charges and the penalties include the following.

An indictment was unsealed charging Alejandro Ruiz (age 41), of California, Guadalupe Ramirez (38) of North Platte, Roberto Duran (33) of Brule, Michael Shawn Harrell (47) of Ogallala, Eduardo Gomez (33) of North Platte and Carl McKinney (37) from Kentucky, with conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine between January of 2021, and January of 2022. A conviction on that charge carries a possible penalty of not less than 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million; and a term of supervised release not less than five years. Ramirez, Gomez, and Harrell also face charges of possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  If convicted, they each face a term of imprisonment of five years to life, consecutive to the drug charge; a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years of supervised release.  Harrell was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. A conviction of that charge carries a penalty of not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.

An indictment was unsealed charging Jamie Hopkins (37), Michael Stroble (30); Joey Romero (36), and Luke Schwartz (30) all of North Platte, with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and distribution of meth between July 2022 through February of 2023. The penalties are not less than 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million; and a term of supervised release not less than five years.

An indictment was unsealed charging Jessica Binegar (37) of North Platte, John Hernandez (35) of Lincoln and Brad Leeper (46) of North Platte with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth (actual) between March and June of 2022.  Leeper was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The possible penalties for distribution are not less than five years, nor more than 40 years in prison; a fine of up to $5 million; and a term of supervised release following the prison term of not less than four years.

Wesley Kraft (36) of Lincoln, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) during April of 2023 and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Timothy Huisman (39) of North Platte, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in February of 2023.

Shane Ross (46) of Ogallala, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in July of 2022.

Richard Torres (44) of Brule, was charged with conspiracy and distribution of more than five grams of meth (actual) between December 2021 and August of 2022.

Timothy Maisner (62) of North Platte, with possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams of more of methamphetamine (actual) and distribution of methamphetamine during January and July of 2023. 

Eddie Houpt (59) of North Platte, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in June of 2022.

To report tips on drug trafficking, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 402-492-8688 or the Nebraska Crime Stoppers tipline at 1-800-422-1494.

These cases were investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and Army National Guard Counter Drug Unit.  The investigation and arrests were also assisted by the U.S. Postal Service, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, La Vista Police Department, the Tri-Cities Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) Task Force, the Western Intelligence Narcotics Group (WING) Task Force, the Capitol Region Safe Streets Task Force (CRSSTF), the Lincoln/Lancaster County Metro Fugitive Task Force, the Lincoln and Keith County Attorney’s Offices, and Nebraska District 11 Probation Office.  

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)

operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal

organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven,

multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at

https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.