Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 24 indictments charging 26 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.

*          Charles J. Baasch, age 54; James M. Holz, age 41, both of Grand Island, Nebraska and Justin Lee Orstad, age 46, of Bothel, Washington, are charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of  methamphetamine. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of not less than 10 years and up to life, a $10 million fine, a 5 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 the indictment, including but not limited to $3,786 in United States currency, should be forfeited to the United States.

*          William Bell, Jr., age 53, of Emerson, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count indictment.  Count I of the Indictment alleges from on or about March 16, 2011, and continuing through December 31, 2011, the defendant did embezzle funds from the Social Security Administration in the amount of approximately $7, 438.00.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  Count II alleges on or about March 16, 2011, and continuing through December 31, 2011, Mr. Bell intentionally concealed and failed to disclose income and royalties from oil and mineral rights on Indian Trust lands, in order to continue to receive Social Security benefits . The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Joseph J. Benz, age 52, of Kearney, Nebraska,  is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment alleges from on or about January 1, 2013, and continuing to on or about May 20, 2013, the defendant did knowingly receive and distribute child pornography.   If convicted, the maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of not less than 5 years or more than 20 years, a fine of $250,000, supervised release for life, and a $100 special assessment.  Benz is charged in Count II of the Indictment with possession of child pornography from on or about May 20, 2013. The maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, supervised release for life, 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 violations alleged in the indictment, should be forfeited to the United States.

*          Robert O. Boyd, age 60, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about September 13, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment is up to 20 years, a $1 million fine, a 3 year team 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 the indictment, including but not limited to:  $777 in United States currency seized on September 13, 2013, a 2012 Homemade Bobber motorcycle, and $7,622 of United States currency seized on September 16, 2013, should be forfeited to the United States.

*          Alejandro Cortes-Guzman, age 32, of Bellevue, Nebraska is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 17, 2013, following deportation as an aggravated felon.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Glen Fischer, age 55, of Omaha, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine on or about August 28, 2013. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years, a $5 million fine, a 4 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

*          Ricardo Flores-Dominguez, age 30, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 12, 2013, after deportation or removal.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 2 years, a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jamie Gomez-Bustamante, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 18, 2013, following deportation as an aggravated felon.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Mark Anthony Grant, age 21, of Winnebago, Nebraska, is charged with child abuse resulting in death on or about September 10, 2013.  The maximum penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 20 years to Life, a fine of $250,000, 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.

*          Laron Hawkins, age 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about September 13, 2013.  The maximum penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years supervised release,  and a special assessment of $100. 

*          Dewayne K. Long, age 51, of Omaha, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors doing business with Citywide Financial Services Corporation .  Long, the President of Citywide, allegedly solicited funds under false pretenses by, among other things, representing that funds entrusted to him for investment purposes would earn returns ranging from 100-400 percent annually.  The indictment alleges Long only invested a small amount of the investors’ funds and converted the rest to his own personal use.  The indictment alleges three victims lost approximately $480,000.  Each of the four counts is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Long is charged in a separate indictment along with Leslie A. Schulz, age 66, of Omaha, with conspiracy to defraud the United States and nine counts of filing false claims against the United States.  The indictment alleges Schulz, d/b/a Schulz Accounting and Tax Service in Omaha, conspired with Long to submit fraudulent IRS Forms 1099-OID falsely claiming that millions of dollars had been withheld from the income of various taxpayers who claimed they were entitled to refunds.  According to the indictment Long referred clients to Schulz for the purpose of having Schulz prepare their tax returns.  It is alleged Schulz filed nine separate federal income tax returns falsely claiming, in total, that $6,862,825 had been withheld which returns sought refunds in the amount of $4,701,010.  The conspiracy count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison while the other nine counts are punishable by up to 5 years in prison.  All ten counts also can be punished by up to a $250,000 fine.

*          Jose Martinez-Rodriguez, age 41, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 18, 2013, after being deported following conviction for an aggravated felony.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted, is imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

*          Eduardo Medina, age 37, of Creston, Iowa, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 5, 2013, after being deported following conviction for an aggravated felony.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

*          Mariano Alberto Miranda-Quiroz, age 31, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about August 15, 2013, after deportation or removal.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 2 years, a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Isaias Navarette-Diaz, age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with misuse of a Social Security Number on or about October 15, 2012.  The maximum possible penalty for this count is imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.  Count II of the Indictment alleges on or about October 15, 2012, Navarette-Diaz made a false statement and claimed to be a United States citizen with the intent to receive Federal and State benefits and to be employed in the United States.  The maximum possible penalty for this count is imprisonment of 5 years, a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III of the Indictment alleges that on or about October 15, 2012, Navarette-Diaz misused a Social Security Card, a State of Colorado Certificate of Live Birth, and a State of Texas Identification Card knowing that said documents were not issued lawfully for his use.  The maximum possible penalty for this count is imprisonment of 5 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Trent R. Nitzel, age 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges Nitzel with bank robbery resulting in the taking of approximately $5,027.00, from Centennial Bank, 6307 Center Street, Omaha, Nebraska, on or about October 24, 2011. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the indictment charges the defendant with bank robbery resulting in the taking of approximately $3,730.00, from First National Bank, 1601 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska, on or about October 28, 2011.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Lois Louise Powell, age 73, of Kimball, Nebraska, is charged with theft of Government funds from the Social Security Administration on or about January 13, 1998,  and continuing through on or about July 24, 2013, by receiving payments to which she knew she was not entitled, having a value of approximately $177,675.90.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted, is imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jose Rodriguez-Bedolla, age 29, of Crete, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 5, 2013, after deportation or removal.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 2 years, a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Paul Rosberg, age 62, of Randolph, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment alleges that the defendant solicited another person to threaten use of physical force against a witness on or about August 30, 2013.    The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $125,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment alleges that Rosberg did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of the justice. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.    

*          Estaban Ignacio Saligan, age 31, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about September 17, 2013, following deportation as an aggravated felon.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Hugo Sotelo-Gardeo, age 36, of Greeley, Colorado, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about February 29, 2013, after deportation or removal.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Matthew C. Steging, age 42, of Emerson, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with production of child pornography from on or about July 6, 2013 and continuing on to July 15, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of not less than 15 years or more than 30 years, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to Life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges the defendant with receipt and distribution of child pornography on and before August 26, 2013. If convicted, the maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of not less than 5 years or more than 20 years, a fine of $250,000, 5 years to Life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Steging is charged in Count III with possession of child pornography from on and before August 26, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty for this count if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to Life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Joaquin Urias-Barranco, age 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about August 20, 2013, following deportation as a felon.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.