Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Lionel Cawthon, 45, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 3, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cawthon to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cawthon is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.

During 2023 and 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department investigated Cawthon for distributing fentanyl in the Omaha area. FBI utilized a confidential informant to purchase 600 M30 fentanyl pills from Cawthon. On February 16, 2024, FBI and Bellevue Police Department executed search warrants at two residences in Omaha. Law enforcement seized approximately 7,000 M30 fentanyl pills.

Cawthon has two prior felony drug convictions, making him a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Co-defendants Gregory Stevenson and Shawn Reese are both pending trial in February 2026.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bellevue Police Department.