Jury Convicts Omaha Woman for Sioux City Meth Conspiracy

A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury May 26, 2016, after a two-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Elizabeth Lopez, 29, from Omaha, Nebraska, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  The verdict was returned following about two hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that Lopez conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine from 2015 through August 2015 in the Sioux City, Iowa area.  The evidence also showed that on August 4, 2015, Lopez had travelled from Omaha, NE to Sioux City, IA to distribute 5 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Lopez had hidden the methamphetamine in her bra.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Lopez was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  Lopez Name faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, $200 in special assessments, and five years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 15-4051.    Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.