Omaha Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Ring

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Ismael Zambrano-Tirado, Sr., 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 17, 2021 in federal court in Omaha after his arrest in a drug trafficking operation.  Zambrano, Sr. was convicted of one count of maintaining a drug involved premises at the El Catrin Restaurant.  Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Zambrano-Tirado, Sr. to 24 months’ imprisonment.  Zambrano-Tirado, Sr. will serve a 1-year term of supervised release following his release from the Bureau of Prisons.  There is no parole in the federal system.    

In November 2017, the FBI began investigating a suspected drug trafficking ring operating out of the El Catrin restaurant located at 6500 Railroad Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.  From November 1, 2017 to July 17, 2019, the El Catrin, while operating as a restaurant with a bar, also served as a property where narcotics distribution occurred.

Several FBI confidential sources made numerous buys of cocaine from employees of the El Catrin restaurant. These buys occurred within the El Catrin restaurant and also in its parking lot.  Zambrano-Tirado, Sr. was present in the El Catrin restaurant when several of these controlled buys of cocaine took place. A search warrant at his home resulted in the seizure of $13,570 in cash, which was derived either directly or indirectly as a result of the offense conduct.

The United States also seized the El Catrin restaurant, the currency found at Zambrano-Tirado’s home, as well as several vehicles used to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics.

On January 27, 2020, Santiago Garcia-Sanchez was sentenced to 46 months on each of his three counts of cocaine distribution, concurrent, to be followed by 3 years supervised release for each count, concurrent.

On June 8, 2020, Fernando Gamon was sentenced to 27 months on each of his three counts of cocaine distribution, concurrent, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for each count, concurrent.

On February 22, 2021, Eduardo Jimenez was sentenced to 12 months and a day on each of his four counts of cocaine distribution, concurrent, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for each count, concurrent.

On April 5, 2021, Samuel Garcia was sentenced to 60 months each for one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine, to be served concurrently, and followed by 1 year and 5 years supervised release for each count, respectively, to be served concurrently.

On April 26, 2021. Alonso Cervantes-Garcia was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment for three counts of distribution of cocaine followed by 3 years supervised release.   

On May 3, 2021, Ismael Zambrano, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 60 months for one count of distribution of methamphetamine to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.