Last Conspirator Sentenced in Firearms and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Case

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alexis Bernal Lopez, 24, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bernal Lopez to 30 months’ imprisonment on the firearms charge and 60 months’ imprisonment on the use of the firearm in the furtherance of drug trafficking charge for a total of 90 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bernal Lopez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

Codefendant Rodolfo Falcon owned a house that was the central location for the distribution of marijuana, marijuana derivatives, and cocaine. Falcon rented that house out to several younger drug dealers including Kenneth Blair, Alexis Bernal-Lopez, and Keland Strong.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force performed a search of the residence and recovered cocaine, marijuana, currency, drug paraphernalia, and several firearms. Falcon, who has a distinctive tattoo on his hand, was seen in photos posing with firearms. One of the firearms shown in the picture was recovered from the residence. Agents also located a stolen firearm and AR15 rifle. 

At the time of the search, Blair was in the basement of the residence along with two apparent narcotics customers. Drugs and cash were also recovered from that location. Strong was located in an upstairs room that contained numerous firearms. Falcon lived on the main level of the home where agents recovered cash, cocaine. and personal identification documents. Evidence of significant marijuana distribution such as wrappers for large quantities of marijuana were also recovered. This, along with text messages between the group members revealed that the home was being used as a narcotics distribution hub and that Majok Bethow, Bernal-Lopez, Strong, and Blair all worked together to sell drugs, particularly marijuana to ‘serves’ (their code word for narcotics purchasers) and would drive each other to sales and work together to get the right types of THC cartridges and marijuana to customers.

On September 28, 2023, Bethow pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced on January 11, 2024, to 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently with a federal case charging him with possessing a machinegun.

On September 28, 2023, Blair pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and was sentenced December 21, 2023 to 21 months’ imprisonment.

On October 27, 2023, Falcon pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  He was sentenced on January 19, 2024 to 24 months’ imprisonment.

On November 17, 2023, Strong pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  He was sentenced on February 8, 2024 to 72 months’ imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.