Grand Jury - December 2023

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned nine unsealed Indictments charging 11 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.

*          Ravier Olivas-Valenzuela, age 32, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Carlos Daniel Ruelas, age 21, of Phoenix, are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Olivas-Valenzuela with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about July 31, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Ruelas with possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture of cocaine on or about July 31, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jaime Ramos-Gonzalez, age 63, of Lexington, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine on or about September 20, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Brian I. Gonzalez, age 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charge Gonzalez with receipt and distribution of child pornography from between on or about March 27, 2023, and on or about November 15, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Gonzalez with possession of child pornography on or about November 15, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.

*          James L. Hatten, II, age 52 of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a five-count Indictment.  Counts I and II charge Hatten with sex trafficking of a minor and production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct from on or about May 1, 2022, through September 1, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges Hatten with sexual exploitation of children from on or about May 1, 2022, through September 1, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Counts IV and V charge Hatten with distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 from on or about May 1, 2022, through September 1, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 1 year and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 6 years, and a $100 special assessment.  

*          Gene Milton Jr., age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges Milton with possession with intent to deliver 400 grams or more of fentanyl on or about December 4, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Milton with possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about December 4, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 30 years’ up to life imprisonment consecutive, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than five years, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Milton with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about December 4, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than three years, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Ronnie James Colvin, III, age 21, of Omaha, Nebraska and Jonathan Ayer, age 20, of Omaha, Nebraska, are charged in a five-count Indictment.  Count I charges Colvin and Ayer with conspiracy to commit bank fraud from no later than January 31, 2023, and continuing to December 7, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than five years, and a $100 special assessment.  Counts II and III charges Colvin and Ayer with bank fraud on or about May 5, 2023, and on or about May 12, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than five years, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Colvin with robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States on or about January 31, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 25 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment. Count V charges Colvin with using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on or about January 31, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 7 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than three years, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Neon Chang, age 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Counts I and II charge Chang with production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on or about January 18, 2019, and or about February 17, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges Chang with receipt or distribution of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct from at least on or about April 5, 2022, and continuing to on or about March 4, 2023.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Chang with possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on or about November 30, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.