United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that after a three-day jury trial in Lincoln, Nebraska, before Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard, Servando V. Urias, 48, of Mexico, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine.
The evidence presented at trial revealed that on Aug. 28, 2019, a codefendant driving a Dodge pickup was stopped by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office after committing traffic infractions while driving on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Simultaneously, a black Jeep occupied by two other codefendants and Urias was stopped by another Lancaster County Deputy as the Jeep was believed to be travelling with the Dodge pickup.
During the course of the traffic stops, deputies became suspicious that parties in both vehicles were involved in criminal activity. Deputies received permission to search both vehicles and discovered three kilos of cocaine, and one kilo of heroin in the rear seat of the Dodge pickup. All were arrested after it was confirmed that the three individuals in the Jeep were in fact traveling with the Dodge containing the drugs. Testimony at trial indicated specifically the heroin belonged to Urias and he came along on the trip to sell it to the unnamed buyer.
The three codefendants had previously pled guilty to the Conspiracy charge and are pending sentencing. Urias’ sentencing has been set for June 9, 2023.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys