California Man Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl and Firearm Charges

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Ramon Lopez-Larios, age 53, of San Ysidro, California, was sentenced August 6, 2024 in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 100 grams or more of fentanyl and for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lopez-Larios to 168 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lopez-Larios is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. He will also forfeit $2,900.00 in U.S. currency to the United States as drug proceeds.

On August 18, 2022, Nebraska State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of a California vehicle on I-80 at mile marker 231. Law enforcement utilized a K-9, which indicated to the presence of narcotics. Law enforcement then searched the vehicle and located two statues. Law enforcement used a Viken Backscatter X-ray machine, and it showed concealed packages inside the statues. Troopers tested the packages, and they contained meth. Law enforcement seized 59 pounds of meth and 9 pounds of fentanyl from the vehicle. Upon further investigation, a firearm was located inside a bucket in the back of the vehicle. Law enforcement confirmed that Lopez-Larios is an illegal alien. In addition, $2,900.00 in U.S. currency was seized from Lopez-Larios' pants pocket.

This case was investigated by <_w3a_sdt docpart="07AF649D38B34A3C90DABF40380F8B3F" dropdown="t" id="1639759743" sdttag="Agency" title="Agency"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="[CHOOSE AN AGENCY]" listvalue="[CHOOSE AN AGENCY]"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. " listvalue="the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Drug Enforcement Administration." listvalue="the Drug Enforcement Administration."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Federal Bureau of Investigation." listvalue="the Federal Bureau of Investigation."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Department of Homeland Security." listvalue="the Department of Homeland Security."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Homeland Security Investigations." listvalue="Homeland Security Investigations."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Immigration and Customs Enforcement." listvalue="Immigration and Customs Enforcement."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Internal Revenue Service." listvalue="the Internal Revenue Service."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="IRS Criminal Investigations." listvalue="IRS Criminal Investigations."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force. " listvalue="the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force. "> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Lincoln Police Department." listvalue="the Lincoln Police Department."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Nebraska State Patrol." listvalue="the Nebraska State Patrol."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force" listvalue="the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Omaha Police Department." listvalue="the Omaha Police Department."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the Postal Inspection Service." listvalue="the Postal Inspection Service."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="the U.S. Secret Service." listvalue="the U.S. Secret Service."> the Nebraska State Patrol.