Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska - September 2026

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 12 unsealed Indictments charging 12 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. 

John Deal, age 46, of North Platte, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Deal with receipt of child pornography beginning on at least October 21, 2011, and continuing to at least December 29, 2024.  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 Deal with possession of child pornography on or about August 4, 2026.  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.  

Miguel Angel Bartolo-Juan, age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Bartolo-Juan with travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct between on or about August 17, 2024, and on or about August 30, 2024.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 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 II charges Bartolo-Juan with production or attempted production of child pornography beginning on or about February 16, 2024, through on or about August 14, 2025. 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.    

Dontae Middlebrook, age 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 19, 2026.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 4 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.   

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Noe Polanco-Flores, age 42

Juan Pacheco-Perez, age 54

Ronald Ezequiel Rivas Sibrian, age 38

Jairo Reyes-Guardado, age 44 

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Rigoberto Barrera Mendoza, age 42 

Hector Curiel-Galindo, age 64 

Jose Natividad Lopez-Delgado, age 53

Macario Solis Morales, age 43

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: 

Elvis Vargas-Murillo, age 38

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.