Hastings Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine

Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Zachary D. Ellis, 28, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln.  United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Ellis to 120 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture.  After serving his sentence, Ellis will be placed on supervised release for 5 years.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

On June 3, 2021, under the direction of law enforcement, a confidential informant purchased about an ounce of methamphetamine from Ellis at his residence in Hastings.  A lab confirmed that the methamphetamine was about 28 grams of methamphetamine mixture.  On June 7, 2021, the same informant, again under law enforcement supervision, purchased two ounces of methamphetamine from Ellis at the same residence.  A lab confirmed that the methamphetamine purchased on June 7, 2021 was 55.94 grams of methamphetamine mixture, of which at least 53 grams was actual methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT).