Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Juan Chuc-Lacan, age 25, of Guatemala, was sentenced October 4, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chuc-Lacan to 108 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In addition, Chuc-Lacan agreed to forfeit $14,726 as proceeds of the drug conspiracy.

On March 30, 2023, the Omaha Police Department utilized a confidential witness (CW) to purchase 91 grams of meth from Jeffrey Beran. On May 31, 2023, another controlled buy was done utilizing a CW. The CW met with Beran, who told the CW that he had to go meet someone to get the meth. Beran was under surveillance and was observed meeting with someone driving a silver Malibu at the Oakview Mall parking lot. Beran returned to the CW and sold him 98 grams of meth.

On June 2, 2023, Beran was arrested on outstanding warrants. While in custody, Beran received a text from his source asking how long it would take to meet him. Investigators were able to determine that the source was at a nearby Hy-Vee. After going to the Hy-Vee parking lot, investigators observed the same silver Malibu that Beran was seen meeting with during the prior controlled buy. Investigators made contact and observed 390 grams of pure meth sitting on the center console. The occupant, Juan Chuc-Lacan was arrested. A search of the vehicle resulted in $4106 being recovered. A door key for Victorian Inn was also found. Chuc-Lacan admitted to staying there and that additional meth would be located. Chuc-Lacan signed a consent to search form and officers recovered two additional pounds of meth and $10,620.

Chuc-Lacan's sentence was increased due to an April 27, 2023, traffic stop that occurred in Utah. During the traffic stop, the Utah State Patrol arrested Chuc-Lacan for driving on a suspended license. During an inventory search of his vehicle, 13 pounds of meth were located. Chuc-Lacan agreed to have the amount of meth seized in Utah be combined with the meth seized in Omaha for sentencing purposes on his federal case.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Utah State Patrol.