Grand Island woman sentenced for distribution of meth following HSI investigation

LINCOLN, Neb. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho and U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced March 24 that Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Kendra R. Baker, 37, of Grand Island, to 54 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine actual following an HSI and law enforcement partner investigation.

After serving her sentence, Baker will serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

In March and April 2021, drug investigators used a confidential informant to arrange the controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Baker. They conducted four methamphetamine purchases during that period at various locations in Grand Island and Hastings. The quantities purchased during those buys ranged from a half-ounce to two ounces of methamphetamine. Baker sold over 125 grams of lab-confirmed methamphetamine. Some of it was tested for purity and determined to contain at least 74 grams of actual methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from HSI, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Grand Island Police Department, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the Hastings Police Department, the Kearney Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to combat drug trafficking in your community on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.