OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Yesterday in Omaha's federal court, two people were sentenced for intent to distribute and deliver methamphetamine. One of them will also face deportation after more than 11 years in prison.
United States Attorney Joseph P. Kelly's office shared the following release regarding the two cases:
Man Sentenced to more than 11 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that on January 6, 2020, Roman Ceballo Gaspar, age 25, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp sentenced Avalos to 135 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Ceballo Gaspar also relinquished any right or claim he had to money seized during the investigation. After completing his term of imprisonment, Ceballo Gaspar will be deported to Mexico as he is not a U.S. citizen.
On April 26, 2018, agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations and the Omaha Police Department executed a search warrant on Ceballo Gaspar’s Omaha residence. The search revealed approximately one pound of methamphetamine, $18,953 U.S. currency, and other evidentiary items.
Earlier that day, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a co-defendant where twelve pounds of methamphetamine were found hidden inside the vehicle. Ceballo Gaspar admitted to his involvement in distributing methamphetamine in the Omaha metro area, and that he was expecting the delivery of the twelve pounds of methamphetamine from the co-defendant.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Omaha Police Department, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Woman Sentenced in Connection with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Ada Patricia Argueta, 48, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on January 6, 2020, to 57 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Following her prison term, Argueta will serve three years of supervised release.
In February 2017, a Drug Enforcement Administration-led task force initiated Operation Speculation, which was a drug interdiction effort focused on a Lincoln, Nebraska, drug trafficking organization. On February 5, 2017, Argueta was stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol. In a spare tire, troopers discovered 7,774 grams of pure methamphetamine. Further investigation determined that the methamphetamine was being transported from California to Lincoln, Nebraska. Argueta was indicted for her role in transporting the methamphetamine.
In all, Operation Speculation resulted in 16 federal indictments with more than forty pounds of methamphetamine and $100,000 being seized.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Police Department, and U.S. Attorney’s Office were the investigating agencies.
