Omaha Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possessing a Firearm

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Felipe Hernandez Molina, age 26, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, after having pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Connection with a Drug Trafficking Crime. Senior United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Felipe Hernandez Molina to 20 years’ imprisonment. Molina’s sentence included a consecutive 5-year term of imprisonment for possessing a firearm while distributing drugs. After completing his term of imprisonment, Molina will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system. Molina also forfeited all the U.S. currency seized during his arrest.

On September 20, 2019, officers with the Omaha Police Department made a traffic stop near 17th and Castelar in Omaha, after observing a car driven by Molina commit two traffic infractions. Upon making contact officers noticed several indicators that Molina was involved in criminal activity and he was ordered out of the car for a pat down search. While exiting the car, Molina placed a bundle of U.S. currency inside the driver’s door. A separate bundle of currency was found on his person. Officers called for a drug detecting canine that alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from within the car. A search revealed drug paraphernalia, a total of $7,836 in cash, approximately 144 grams of methamphetamine, and a black Ruger SR22 handgun all near the center console. During a post-arrest interview at the scene, Molina admitted to selling methamphetamine and purchasing multiple pounds.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives task force as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.