Lincoln Man Sentenced for Being a Drug User in Possession of a Firearm

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dekevious Riley, 22, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 3, 2023, by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for being a marijuana user in possession of a firearm. After he completes his prison sentence, Riley will also serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On March 24, 2022, investigators spoke with Riley who was a passenger in a car parked in a parking lot in Lincoln.  The car smelled of marijuana prompting a search. Investigators found a partially smoked marijuana blunt, a rolling tray, and a bag of marijuana weighing 2.6 grams. Riley had an outstanding warrant for marijuana possession at the time and was arrested. Investigators then searched a Lincoln apartment where Riley had been staying.  In the bedroom police found a 24-round-capacity handgun extended magazine, a 16-round-capacity handgun magazine, and a speed loader for a Glock handgun. In the bedroom closet, investigators located a Glock 9mm pistol. Investigators searched Riley’s social media account and found numerous images and videos showing Riley’s narcotic usage and firearm possession between April 16, 2021, and March 4, 2022. Riley told investigators that he regularly used marijuana and that the Glock pistol was his.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the FBI. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.