Grand Jury - January 2021

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned  22 unsealed Indictments charging  28 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.

*          Mitchell D. Abraham, age 22, of Omaha, is charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity beginning on December 8, 2020 and continuing through December 31, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Megan Louise Anderson, age 35, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning November 4, 2020 and continuing through November 18, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 18, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Marcos Aviles-Cruz, age 31, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about December 22, 2020, following an aggravated felony conviction.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Eliseo Barrera-Peraza, age 48, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is charged with distribution of 500 grams of methamphetamine (mixture) on November 17, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Perrion Bluford, age 19, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methylenedioxymethamphetamine on January 13, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine, three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about January 13, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about January 13, 2021.           

*          David Cantu a/k/a Eswin Lopez, age 27 of Crete, Nebraska, is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor beginning October 27, 2020 through on or about January 15, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Cody A. Cape, age 21, of Blair, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer beginning on November 1, 2020 through on or about December 25, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with interstate kidnapping beginning on or about December 24, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on or about December 24, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 7 years’ consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  

*          Carla Colliers a/k/a Carla Kochen a/k/a Carla Arndt, age 44, and James Finley, age 36, are charged in a four-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) beginning on June, 2020 and continuing through November 12, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Colliers with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about September 24, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges Colliers with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about November 12, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count IV charges Finley with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about November 12, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about September 24, 2020.                     

*          Samuel D. Edwards, a/k/a Samuel Dean Edwards, a/k/a Samuel Edwards, a/k/a Samuel Donkey Edwards, age 34, of Omaha, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender beginning October, 2019 through on or about January, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Valentin Diaz Hernandez, age 27, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about January 1, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Bryan A. Erdman, age 49, of Omaha, is charged in a nine-count Indictment with failure to pay over withholding and FICA taxes beginning 2015 through on or about 2017.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count. 

*          Brandon Escamilla, age 18, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charge the defendant with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine on or about April 23, 2019 and December 16, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine, three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charge the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about April 23, 2019 and December 16, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with unlawful user in possession of firearms on or about April 23, 2019 and December 16, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.                   

*          Brandon Goodsell, age 33, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 2, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charge the defendant with using, carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime on or about August 2, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment consecutive, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with prohibited person in possession of firearm on August 2, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.                   

*          Patricia Jacobsen, age 34, of Omaha, Elycia Washington, age 22, and Brandy Williamson, age 38, are charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) beginning in August, 2020 and continuing through October 21, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $50,000,000 fine, 10-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Jacobsen with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about October 20, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $50,000,000 fine, 10-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges Washington and Williamson with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about October 21, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about October 20, 2020.                    

*          Aarion Jenkins, age 25, of Omaha, is charged in a three-count Indictment with distribution of marijuana beginning on November 22, 2019 and continuing through December 13, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for each count.                     

*          Felipe Licea-Salazar, age 23, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about October 9, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Arturo Maldonado-Medina, a/k/a Fidencio Alvarez Avila, a/k/a Oscar Hernandez Lara, age 46, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about December 26, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jesse Neri, age 20, of Omaha, and Oswaldo Neri, age 28, of Omaha, are charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning January 1, 2021 and continuing through January 8. 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendants with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about January 12, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges Jesse distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about January 5, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Charles Pierce, age 58, of Milford, Nebraska, is charged with obtaining oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge on or about January, 2020 to on or about September, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 4 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Stetson Reinick, age 32, of Potter, Nebraska, and Stephanie Mitchell, age 27, of Potter, Nebraska, are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendants with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on September 21, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Reinick with felon in possession of a firearm on or about September 21, 2020. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Katherine L. Woitaszewski, age 33, of West Point, Nebraska, and Henry Poteet, age 64, are charged with conspiracy to commit escape from a Bureau of Prisons facility on or about October 28, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Katherine L. Woitaszewski, age 33, of West Point, Nebraska is charged with felon in possession of a firearm on September 18, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.