Lincoln Man Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Robert Vincent Harris, age 57, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 25, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Harris to 240 months’ imprisonment on each count to run concurrently (together). There is no parole in the federal system. After Harris’ release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Harris was convicted on both counts by Judge Gerrard in August of 2024 after a non-jury trial.

The United States presented evidence at trial showing Harris and the victim were at a social gathering on February 14, 2024, and decided to walk to a nearby convenience store to purchase alcoholic beverages.  Harris had offered to sell the victim some heroin about a week before this incident. On the way to the convenience store, the victim asked Harris if he still had heroin available.  He said he did, and they stopped at his Lincoln apartment, where Harris drew out a line of a powder substance and both he and the victim snorted some of the powder.  Harris and the victim then walked to the convenience store where the victim bought some alcohol while Harris waited outside.  After purchasing the alcohol, the victim and Harris left the store to return to the social gathering, but the victim passed out.  Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded after being called by a clerk at the convenience store and they administered Narcan to the victim.  The victim woke up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and was interviewed by investigators after her release from the hospital.

On February 15, 2024, a search warrant was obtained for Harris’s apartment.  During the search, investigators found powder on a mirror and cut off straws matching descriptions given by the victim.  Harris ultimately admitted he provided the fentanyl powder to the victim.  Harris said after the victim’s overdose, he went home and used the rest of the fentanyl powder.  On February 15^th, he bought more of what he believed was heroin from his source and said the powder found during the search of his apartment was what remained from that quantity. Harris’s phone contained text messages from February 15^th in which he talked about the victim’s overdose the night before and in which he agreed to obtain and sell drugs to a third person on that date.

Testing at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab later showed fentanyl in the victim’s urine sample.   Powder seized from Harris’s apartment tested positive for fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and heroin.  A medical expert reviewed the case, determined the victim suffered an overdose due to the use of fentanyl, and stated it was likely that the victim would have died or would have suffered serious debilitating injury without the prompt administration of Narcan.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force, the Nebraska State Patrol, and Lincoln Fire & Rescue.