United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Yuri Mulato, age 42, of California, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of possession with intent to distribute. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Mulato to a total of 87 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mulato's release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On January 23, 2024, a state trooper stopped a vehicle driving along Interstate 80 in Nebraska. There were two occupants in the vehicle. The driver, and owner of the vehicle, was identified as Mulato. The trooper asked for permission to search the vehicle, which Mulato agreed to. The trunk area of the vehicle contained a potato chip box that was duct taped closed and a spare tire that was too large for the vehicle. The box and tire contained bricks of meth, cocaine, heroin, and pills containing fentanyl. The State Crime Lab confirmed that there was 22 kilograms of meth, including at least 2 kilograms of meth actual, just over 1 kilogram of heroin, just over 1 kilogram of pills that tested positive for fentanyl, and 475 grams of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration.