Arizona Man Sentenced for 51 Pounds of Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Xavier Olivas-Valenzuela, age 24, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced October 23, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Olivas-Valenzuela to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On July 31, 2023, the DEA Criminal Interdiction Unit was working at the bus station in Omaha, Nebraska, when they made contact with Olivas-Valenzuela.  During the contact, Olivas-Valenzuela admitted to contraband in his bag.  When investigators began to search his bag, Olivas-Valenzuela ran out the door.  After a short pursuit, Olivas-Valenzuela was detained.  A search of his luggage resulted in 51 pounds of meth being seized. A search that night of Olivas-Valenzuela’s phone showed that he was directed to stay at a residence in the 1700 block of N. 10^th Street.  A search warrant was obtained for that residence.  Investigators found Carlos Ruelas at the residence, along with 10 kilograms of cocaine and $68,460.

Ruelas was sentenced on October 2, 2024, to a term of imprisonment of 46 months.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Nebraska State Patrol.