Canadian National Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Drug and Gun Charges

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that John Francis, 23, of Canada, was sentenced on March 27, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Francis to a total of 181 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Francis’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On March 4, 2023, a Saline County Sheriff’s Deputy performing patrol and drug interdiction duties on I-80 westbound initiated a traffic stop of a 2023 Chevy Tahoe. Instead of slowing, the Tahoe accelerated, resulting in a 30-minute pursuit over three counties for approximately 50 miles, at sustained speeds of more than 100 mph. Officers from six different departments were called in to assist with the stop due to the excessive speed of the fleeing Tahoe.

Officers had to deploy three sets of spike strips (tire deflation devices) across the interstate. The spike strips ultimately caused three of the four tires on the Tahoe to fail, and the Tahoe came to rest in the middle of the passing lane on the interstate. Francis emerged from the Tahoe with his hands in the air and immediately laid down on his chest in the median.

The driver and only occupant of the vehicle was eventually identified as John Francis, although another person’s Canadian driver’s license was found in the Tahoe.  Francis had a loaded handgun in the cupholder and a duffle bag on the passenger seat. The duffle bag contained approximately 6.65 pounds of
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in crystalline form. Officers also found more than $6,000 and other indicators of drug trafficking on Francis and in the Tahoe. The $6,000 was forfeited to the United States as proceeds from drug trafficking.

Francis previously pled not guilty. He was found guilty by a federal jury on November 13, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Seward County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Lincoln Police Department.