Lincoln Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Charges

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that on May 15, 2019, Sabas Rodriguez-Cisneros, 47, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  The trial began in federal court in Lincoln on Monday, May 13, 2019, before Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard.    

In early March, 2018, a DHL package was intercepted by United States Customs and Border Control agents at the Cincinnati, Ohio, port of entry.  The package was addressed to Rodriguez-Cisneros’s girlfriend in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Customs agents opened the package and found suspected methamphetamine and pills.  Homeland Security Investigations agents sent the package to their Omaha office, and Omaha HSI agents delivered it to the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.  On March 5, 2018, an undercover Lincoln Police officer delivered the package to Rodriguez-Cisneros’s girlfriend in Lincoln, and she was arrested. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory found the package contained 400 grams of substance containing methamphetamine.  Purity analysis showed at least 370 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  There were also 197 full fentanyl tablets in the package.

Testimony and evidence presented at trial established that between October of 2016 and March 5, 2018, Rodriguez-Cisneros and several other persons were involved in the sale of methamphetamine in the Lincoln, Dwight, and Crete, Nebraska areas.  The jury found Rodriguez-Cisneros responsible for at least 50 grams, (approximately 1 ¾ ounces), of methamphetamine actual (pure) and at least 500 grams, (approximately 18 ounces), of methamphetamine mixture.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 16, 2019.  Rodriguez-Cisneros faces a possible sentence of not less than 10 years nor more than life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force, the Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.