Nebraska Man to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced September 24, 2015, to six years in federal prison.

Jose William Orellana, 42, from South Sioux City, Nebraska, received the prison term after a May 22, 2015, jury verdict finding him guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence at trial showed Orellana participated in a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine in Sioux City, Iowa and South Sioux City, Nebraska.   Law enforcement officers gathered incriminating evidence through surveillance, and a series of covert drug buy operations from September 2013 through May 13, 2014.

Orellana was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Orellana was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Orellana is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 14-4046.

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