Nebraska woman sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine following a joint HSI, law enforcement partner investigation

LINCOLN, Neb. – Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Joshua Armstrong and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tammie J. Young, 53, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Lincoln. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Young to 54 months in prison for one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture, following an HSI, joint law enforcement partner investigation.

After serving her sentence, Young will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. There is no parole in the federal system.

On Sept. 28, 2021, investigators with the Tri-Cities Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) conducted a controlled purchase of about an ounce of methamphetamine from Young in Kearney. On October 14, 2021, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of about two ounces of methamphetamine from Young again in Kearney. On Jan. 5, 2022, Young’s vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in Kearney. A drug-sniffing dog was deployed around her vehicle and indicated to the presence of a narcotics odor coming from the vehicle. Officer searched the vehicle and found a suspected methamphetamine pipe and a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine. Young was arrested and searched, and officers found about a half ounce of methamphetamine in her pocket. A lab determined that the methamphetamine Young distributed and possessed with intent to distribute in these instances totaled over 97 grams of methamphetamine mixture, of which at least 91 grams was actual methamphetamine.   

This case was investigated by TRIDENT. TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from HSI, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Homeland Security Investigations

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and 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 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’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.