Lincoln Man Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Ricardo Omar Hernandez, age 36 of Lincoln, Nebraska, was convicted by a federal jury on August 29, 2013, of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and five grams or more of pure methamphetamine after a trial of three-and-a-half days. The jury also found that Hernandez should forfeit $12,914.00 in cash to the United States.

Hernandez was indicted on the conspiracy charge in June 2013. He is scheduled for sentencing on November 26, 2013. If he is found to have a prior felony drug conviction, he faces a sentence of at least 20 years to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000,000. Otherwise, the potential penalty is 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

Evidence presented at trial indicated that between January 2011 and February 23, 2013, Hernandez was involved with persons who were distributing methamphetamine in the Lincoln, Beatrice, and Omaha areas. Witnesses testified at trial that Hernandez obtained methamphetamine from sources in Omaha and Lincoln. He sold methamphetamine to persons in Lincoln. Some of Hernandez’s customers sold methamphetamine in Lincoln. One customer sold methamphetamine in Beatrice.

On February 23, 2013, a search warrant was served by the Lincoln Police Department at Hernandez’s Lincoln apartment. During that search, officers found 17.41 grams of methamphetamine, which was determined to be at least 95 percent pure, along with $12,914 in cash.

The matter was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, which includes the Lincoln Police Department Narcotics Unit and investigators from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department and the UNL Police Department, and assistance was also provided by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Federal Bureau Investigation, (FBI).