Grand Jury - November 2022

Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 14 unsealed Indictments charging 16 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.

*          Jimmy L. Aaron, age 48, of Omaha, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 23, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, not less than ten years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Jacqueline R. Brandt, age 43, of Minden, Iowa, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Counts I-III charge Brandt with bank fraud beginning on or about January 6, 2022 and continuing to on or about July 5, 2022.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

There is also an allegation to forfeit $116,240 in United States currency and property seized on or about July 5, 2022.

*          Aaron Jason Burkholder, age 46, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with escape from custody on or about June 28, 2022.  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. 

*          Joshua Thomas Alan Casiano, age 35, is charged with possession of stolen firearms beginning on or about April 13, 2021 and continuing through May 4, 2021.  The penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Alonzo Chich-Perez, age 20, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about April 12, 2022.  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.

*          Jonathan Cortez Moreno, age 37, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction on or about October 14, 2022.  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.

*          Miguel Alcangel Fonseca Maradiaga a/k/a Miguel M. Fonseca, age 35, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after having been convicted of a felony on or about September 16, 2022.  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. 

*          Erika Lopez-Garcia, age 27, and Gabriel Rubio-Quevedo, age 25, are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Lopez-Garcia and Rubio-Quevedo with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about April 1, 2022 and continuing to on or about August 31, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Lopez-Garcia with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about August 31, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Eleuterio Meza-Navarro, age 35, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction on or about November 7, 2022.  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.

*          Monica Morales, age 31, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Morales with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about September 14, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Morales with possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime on or about September 14, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Jose Rico, age 25, of Lamont, California, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl on or about July 20, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Juan Vargas Lopez, age 33, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation on or about October 26, 2022.  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.

*          Oscar A. Villa, age 36, and Johana Madrid, age 28, are charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Villa and Madrid with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) beginning on or about unknown date and continuing to on or about August 17, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Villa and Madrid with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 17, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to a life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Clifford Wright, III, age 33, is charged with felon in possession of a firearm beginning on or about November 2, 2022.  The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.