January Grand Jury

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 20 indictments charging 21 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.

*          Anthony Aranda, age 22, and Jamie Speelman, age 29, of Sioux City, Iowa, are charged in a three-count indictment.  Count I of the indictment charges both defendants with carjacking a 2000 GMC pickup in the Omaha area on November 22, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty, if convicted, is 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the indictment charges both defendants with brandishing a rifle during the carjacking.  The maximum possible penalty, if convicted of that charge, is 7 years to life imprisonment consecutive to the carjacking penalty, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  Count III of the indictment charges Speelman with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The maximum possible penalty, if convicted, is 10 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  In a separate indictment, Speelman is charged with interference with commerce by robbery for her involvement in the robbery of the Midtown Gas and Grocery, 1222 S. 24th Street, Omaha, also on November 22, 2013.  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.  She is also charged with brandishing a firearm during this robbery and, if convicted, faces a 7 years to life sentence consecutive to this robbery.

*          Ruben James Buchanan,  age 17, of Winnebago, Nebraska, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse on or about July 30, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of up to Life, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Katiengnainin Coulibaly, age 26, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or stolen credit and debit cards on or about January 13, 2014.  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.

*          Gregory Dreher, age 38, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine on or about December 14, 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.

*          Jorge Escobedo-Estrada, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about July 27, 2013,  after deportation or removal. 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.

*          Juan Francisco Galarza-Galarza, age 38, of Omaha,  is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about January 13, 2014,  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.

*          Isidro Gonzalez-Chavez, age 34, of Harvard, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about October 31, 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.

*          Ivell M. Hagens, age 29, of Omaha, is charged with felon in possession of firearm on or about September 17, 2013.  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. 

*          Gene Howard, age 41, of Sterling, Colorado, is charged in a two count indictment.  Count I alleges that on or about November 22, 2013, the defendant possessed with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana. The maximum possible penalty includes imprisonment of up to 20 years, a $1 million fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Count II alleges that on or about November 22, 2013, Gene Howard was in possession of a firearm, to wit: a Ruger .22 caliber semiautomatic handgun after having been convicted of a felony. The maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

*          Rafael Jaimes-Diaz, age 36, of Lincoln, Nebraska,  is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about December 19, 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.

*          Francisco Javier Lopez-Acosta, age 25, is charged with conspiring with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin beginning on or about December 1, 2013 and continuing to on or about January 7, 2014.  The maximum possible penalty 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.

*          Jose Lorenzo-Ignacio, age 29, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about January 16, 2014,  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.

*          Lorenzo Pedro Lorenzo-Lucas, age 49, of Omaha, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about January 9, 2014,  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.

*          Wilfredo Lorenzo-Ordonez, age 23, of Lexington, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about October 16, 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.

*          Anthony James Lovejoy, age 28, of Walthill, Nebraska, is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury on or about December 20, 2013.  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.

*          Heriberto Negrete-Rojas, age 22, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about January 8, 2014,  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.

*          Fernando Parra-Salmeron, age 32, of Fremont, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about November 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.

*          Olman Rodas-Ramos, age 27, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with illegal reentry into the United States on or about June 24, 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.

*          Cesar Salazar-Rodriguez, age 23, of Omaha, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with illegal reentry into the United States on or about December 11, 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.    Count II of the Indictment alleges that on or about May 22, 2013, Salazar-Rodriguez misused a Social Security Card and a Permanent Resident 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.  Count III of the Indictment alleges that on or about November 8, 2013, the defendant misused a Permanent Resident Card knowing that said documents were not issued lawfully for his use.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 5 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count IV of the Indictment charges the defendant with misuse of a Social Security Number on or about May 22, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is imprisonment of 5 years, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jerald Vrbas, age 60, of Palisade, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges Vrbas with production and manufacturing of child pornography on or about September 2012.  If convicted, the maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of not less than 15 years nor more than 30 years, a fine of $250,000, 5 years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II of the indictment charges Vrbas with receipt and distribution of child pornography from on and before September 6, 2013.  If convicted, the maximum possible penalty is imprisonment of not less than 5 years nor more than 20 years, a fine of $250,000, 5 years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  The defendant is charged in Count III of the indictment with possession of child pornography from on or about October 22, 2013.  The maximum possible penalty for this count if convicted is imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, 5 years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.