Omaha Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Methamphetamine and Cocaine Conspiracy

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Salvador Perez, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 2, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for two charges – (1) conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and (2) possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Perez to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perez’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

Omaha police received information from a cooperator that co-defendant Miguel Avalos-Diaz was distributing meth and cocaine. Police used the cooperator to make three “controlled buys” from Avalos-Diaz in February and March of 2022.

After the third drug deal, police searched a residence in south Omaha near Bellevue on March 30, 2022. Inside, officers encountered and arrested Avalos-Diaz and Perez. Police seized approximately 2.5 pounds of meth, more than $36,000 in cash, and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Officers also found evidence of cocaine distribution in the residence, including six digital scales, cutting agents, a vacuum sealer, and small amounts of cocaine packaged in baggies. Review of both defendants’ Facebook messages dating back to December 2021 revealed a conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine throughout the time period of the messages.

A total of $36,598 in cash has been forfeited to the United States as proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. An Audi sedan, registered to Perez and driven by Avalos-Diaz to the controlled buys, has also been forfeited as property that facilitated illegal drug trafficking.

Avalos-Diaz, 27, of Omaha was sentenced to 260 months’ imprisonment on November 30, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.