Nebraska man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine following joint HSI, law enforcement partner investigation

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Katherine Greer and Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Raymond L. Moreno, 37, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Moreno to 120 months in prison for one count of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 120 months in prison for one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), following a joint HSI and law enforcement partner investigation.

Moreno will serve his sentences concurrently before participating in supervised release for an additional five years. There is no parole in the federal system.

On March 9, 2021, investigators with the Tri-Cities Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) purchased methamphetamine from Moreno in the parking lot of a Grand Island grocery store. TRIDENT sent the methamphetamine to a lab for testing, and the lab determined that the substance comprised about 27.54 grams of methamphetamine — and that at least 25 grams of the substance were actual methamphetamine.

On March 22, 2021, TRIDENT investigators again purchased methamphetamine from Moreno — this time in a gas station parking lot in Grand Island. They sent the purchased methamphetamine to a lab for testing, and the lab determined that the purchased substance comprised 56.32 grams of methamphetamine, of which at least 54 grams were actual methamphetamine.

TRIDENT, which investigated this case, is a task force made up of 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.

Homeland Security Investigations

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 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 over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ 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.