United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that Devontez Bobo, 26, of Omaha, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for transportation with intent to promote prostitution, distribution of cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.  Bobo was ordered to serve three years on supervised release after the completion of his prison term.

On or about September 6, 2018, using an internet website identified as skipthegames.com, an adult female was advertised as an escort available in Sioux City, Iowa.  Bobo transported the female from Omaha, Nebraska to a hotel in Sioux City, Iowa, for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.  Sioux City Police officers identified Bobo, his vehicle, and the female at the hotel.  A Sioux City Police officer, acting in an undercover capacity, contacted the female using the telephone number advertised.  After providing the officer with the hotel room number, the officer arrived and was allowed entry to the room by the female for purposes of engaging in commercial sex.  Sioux City Police officers entered the room and placed the female into custody.  Hotel paperwork obtained by law enforcement revealed that Bobo rented the room where the female was detained. Sioux City Police officers subsequently encountered and arrested Bobo as he drove his vehicle away from the hotel. 

In November 2018, Bobo sold one ounce of powder cocaine and a Colt .32 caliber revolver to a confidential informant who was monitored in real time by law enforcement surveillance units. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Omaha Police Department, and the Sioux City Police Department in Iowa.

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 15 indictments charging 17 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

*          Devontez Bobo, age 26, is charged with transportation with intent to promote prostitution on September 6, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit property seized on or about September 6, 2018.

*          Edwin Mauricio Castro, age 36, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 5, 2019, following an aggravated felony conviction.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Judy K. Conley a/k/a Judy K. Werner, age 67, of Sidney, Iowa, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with Social Security Fraud-failure to disclose income beginning on or about July, 2003 and continuing without interruption until around January, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with Social Security Fraud-false statement for determining right to benefits on or about August 30, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with Social Security Fraud-false statement an application on or about November 6, 2017.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Brandon Cordero, age 26, of Columbus, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on May 10, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, 4-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.    

*          Evaristo Fuego-Calel, age 27, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about May 29, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Dylan T. Hedrick, age 25, of Lincoln, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with production of child pornography transported to the United States between on or about May 1, 2018 to May 1, 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is a minimum of 15 years to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year to Life term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges the defendant with receipt of child pornography on or about August 18, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year to Life term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.  Count III of the Indictment charges the defendant with distribution of child pornography, on or about August 29, 2018. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a - year to Life term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.  Count IV of the Indictment charges the defendant with possession of child pornography, with a prior conviction, on or about April 12, 2019. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 5-year to Life term of supervised release, $100 special assessment.

*          Jack Eugene Knight, age 53, is charged with assault on a Federal Employee on or about April 17, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Jose Loarca Lopez, age 52, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation following a felony conviction on or about May 21, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Maria Isabel Lopez, age 55, of Grand Island, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with theft of Government funds beginning on or about June 19, 2014 and continuing without interruption until around September 11, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with Social Security Fraud-false statement or representation on or about September 10, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with Social Security Fraud-occurrence of event affecting right to receive payment on or about November 4, 2011 and continuing without interruption until around September 11, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Pablo Morales Rodriguez, age 40, is charged in a three-count Indictment.  Count I charges the defendant with false representation of a Social Security Number with intent to deceive beginning on or about February 13. 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with false representation of a Social Security Number with intent to deceive beginning on or about February 27. 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with false representation of a Social Security Number with intent to deceive beginning on or about March 13. 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Antonio Phillip, age 34, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Count I of the Indictment charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute cocaine on or about January 8, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute marijuana beginning on or about December 18, 2018 until January 8, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 2-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III of the Indictment charges the defendant with felon in possession of a firearm on or about January 8, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment.  Count IV of the Indictment charges the defendant with possessing or using a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime on or about January 8, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment consecutive, $250,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit U.S. currency seized on or about January 8, 2019.

*          Edgar Nazael Rodriguez Ordonez, age 31, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation following a felony conviction on or about May 30, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Jose Sebastian Urbina Morales, age 40, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation following a felony conviction on or about May 21, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Ashley Whited, age 30, of Sidney, Nebraska, Francisco Herrera, age 35, of Sterling, Colorado, and Jared Schaefer, age 26, of Sidney, Nebraska, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, beginning on or about March, 2019 and continuing to on or about May, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 40 years’ imprisonment, $5,000,000 fine, 4-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II of the Indictment charges Herrera with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 10, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Celestino Zavala-Aguirre a/k/a Jesus Tapia-Lopez, age 35, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on May 30, 2019.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is Life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.