Lincoln Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Stacey Vanarsdale, 37, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 6, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Vanarsdale to 132 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vanarsdale’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release.

On August 10, 2022, Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF) served a search warrant, at the home of Stacey Vanarsdale.  Vanarsdale was contacted outside and taken into custody.  A co-defendant, Alphonso Johnson, Jr. was found in a bedroom within the residence.  In the bedroom closet, investigators located a total of 365.9 grams of suspected meth, which was separated in 12-ounce quantity baggies. In the closet was $217.00 in U.S. currency and other illegal narcotics. 

Law enforcement additionally downloaded and reviewed both Vanarsdale’s and Johnson’s personal cell phones.  Text messages located on both devices indicated that Johnson directed people to meet with him or Vanarsdale at the apartment, for the purpose of selling drugs, and that they worked in concert to distribute these drugs.

The suspected meth was sent to the lab, and the lab determined that there was about 346.35 grams of meth, of which at least 180 grams was actual meth.  The co-defendant, Alphonso Johnson, Jr., was previously sentenced to 132 months’ (11 years) imprisonment on March 1, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).