August Grand Jury

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 26 indictments charging 31 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

*          Paloma Aguirre, age 28, of Lexington, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine on or about June 20, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges Aguirre with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing  methamphetamine on or about June 4, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Amber Alvord, age 35 and Thomas Perez, age 32, both of Omaha are charged in a seven-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about June 1, 2013, and continuing to on or about April 17, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.   Counts II and III of the Indictment charge Alvord with distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine on or about June 12, 2013 and June 25, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.  Counts IV and VI of the Indictment charge Alvord and Perez with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about April 2, 2014 and April 17, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 SA for each count.  Counts V and VII of the Indictment allege that on or about April 2, 2014 and April 17, 2014, the defendants used or carried a firearm during and in relation to, or possessed a firearm in furtherance of, the drug trafficking offense alleged in Count I. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of not less than 5 years and up to Life to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a $250,000 fine, a 5 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment for each count. The indictment also alleges any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the violation alleged in Count I of the indictment, including but not limited to $2,500.00 in United States currency seized on April 2, 2014, and $1,520.00 in United States currency seized on April 17, 2014 should be forfeited to the United States.

*          Jose Barraza, age 37, is charged with traveling in interstate commerce from beginning on or about January 2000, and continuing until on or about December 2012, to distribute the proceeds of an unlawful activity, namely a business enterprise involving distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 years term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Howard Barta, age 51, and Dennis Wood, age 58, both of Columbus, Nebraska , are charged in a twenty-four count Indictment.   Count I of the Indictment charges both defendants with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud from on or about January, 2010, and continuing through on or about March, 2011.   The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts  II thru XVI of the Indictment charge Barta and Wood with mail fraud from on or about January, 2010 through on or about March, 2011.   The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.  Counts XVII thru XXIV of the Indictment charge the defendants with wire fraud from on or about January, 2010 through on or about March, 2011.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.  It is alleged Barta and Wood would contact people throughout the United States who had advertised items for sale on Craigslist and would agree to buy the item and send payment for it.  The defendants would then send a counterfeit cashier’s check or money order to the victims that greatly exceeded the sale price of the Craigslist item.  The victim would be instructed to deposit the counterfeit items into the victim’s bank account and send the extra money back to the defendants.  Barta and Wood mailed out approximately 4,478 counterfeit money orders and cashier’s checks to approximately 1,896 victims and attempted to cause losses amounting to $4,633,476.

*          Patrick Burden, age 31, is charged with distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about April 25, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Pedro Pani De La Cruz and Felipe Soto-Moncado are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute counterfeit social security cards from on or about December 13, 2013, and continuing until on or about July 30, 2014.    The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Counts II and III of the Indictment charge Soto-Moncado with unlawful transfer of a false social security card on December 13, 2013 and January 9, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.  The indictment also alleges any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the violation alleged in Count I of the indictment should be forfeited to the United States.

*          Dylan Donnell, age 22, of Auburn, Nebraska, is charged with five counts of bank fraud from on or about October 15, 2013 to on or about January 24, 2014.  Donnell allegedly lied to the bank regarding the purpose for loans he obtained from the bank and regarding the existence of collateral for the loans.  The total loss to the bank was approximately $92,452.00.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count. 

*          Gualberto Flores-Saavedra, age 35, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about August 1, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Rudy Gaoraldno, age 25, of Fremont, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 23, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Abraham Garcia-Dominguez, age 32, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 17, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Juan Jimenez-Campos, age 30, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 9, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Richard Allen Knight, age 44, of Shenandoah, Iowa, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender in Nebraska from at least on or about March 28, 2014, to on or about May 26, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5 year to Life  term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jacque Little, age 28, of North Platte, Nebraska, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture containing methamphetamine beginning on or about May, 2014, and continuing to on or about July, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Alberto Melgarejo-Cruz, age 46, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 24, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Reynaldo Perez, Jr., age 34, and Jamie Perez, age 31 both of North Platte, Nebraska, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture containing methamphetamine beginning on or about February, 2014, and continuing to on or about July, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Gabino Quintana-Escalera, age 54, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about August 12, 2014, following deportation as a felon. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Danny Reed, age 59, of McCook, Nebraska, and Tammy Knight, age 38, are charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine on or about July 11, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Jose Angel Reyes, age 36, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Chelsey Skeahan, age 30, of Ceresco, Nebraska are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine beginning on or about May, 2013, and continuing to on or about April 15, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges Reyes and Skeahan with possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing marijuana on or about January 30, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 2 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The indictment also alleges any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the violation alleged in Count I of the indictment, including but not limited to $2,080.00 in United States currency seized on January 30, 2014, and $1,999.00 in United States currency seized on April 15, 2014,  should be forfeited to the United States.

*          Ross Rivera, age 30, and Sheena Strand, age 27, of North Platte, Nebraska are charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine on or about July 11, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Joel Ruiz-Rebollar, age 30, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 22, 2014,  following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Domingo Tercero-Raymundo, also known as Joel Perez, also known as Mario Chavez, also known as Noe Pena Santos, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about June 30, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Nicolas Urbieta, age 30, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Counts I thru III charge the defendant with distribution of methamphetamine on or about May 3, 2014, May 7, 2014 and May 9, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count IV of the Indictment charges Urbieta with distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 15, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a 4 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  

*          Juan Velasquez-Salgado, age 32, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about August 1, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Hendri Vicente Puac, age 33, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about May 12, 2014, following deportation. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Kristine Warren, age 23, of LaVista, Nebraska, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone beginning on or about January, 2014, and continuing to on or about May 28, 2014. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, a 2 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Brenda Warta, age 55, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with bank fraud resulting in a loss to Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Company of $431,952.00 from on or about September 13, 2005 through on or about September 16, 2006.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Counts II and III of the Indictment charge Warta with false statements on loan and credit applications regarding the existence of collateral for the loans.   The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.