United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OMAHA, Neb. – A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division investigation led to the arrest of 23 year old Jesse Neri who was sentenced August 25, to 17 and-a-half years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Neri, of Omaha, conspired with his brother, Oswaldo Neri, of Mexico, and others to distribute methamphetamine in Omaha in early 2021. Neri was sentenced to 210 months on each count, to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five year term of supervised release.

On January 4 and 5, 2021, an undercover officer and a known Mexico-based methamphetamine supplier negotiated the sale and purchase of one pound of methamphetamine.  The agent and the Mexican source of supply agreed that a local party would meet the customer at a business in Omaha to complete the sale and agreed that the customer would pay $4,100 for the pound. As planned, they met and completed the transaction. Investigators thereafter identified the Neri brothers as the persons who met with the undercover officer and delivered the methamphetamine.

A week later, on January 12, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at the Neri brothers’ residence in Omaha. Both brothers were arrested, and investigators seized six additional pounds of methamphetamine from Oswaldo Neri’s bedroom closet, as well as additional evidence of distribution.

“Drug traffickers in Nebraska should take note of today’s sentencing,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Those pushing methamphetamine on our streets should realize that there are serious consequences that can come from selling drugs. Jesse now has more than 17 years in federal prison to think about the oftentimes irreparable damage he’s caused to families and communities in Nebraska. ”

A jury trial of the brothers was set to commence on February 8, 2022. Jesse Neri pled guilty on the morning trial was to begin, leaving Oswaldo Neri as the sole defendant at trial. On February 10, 2022, a federal jury in the District of Nebraska found Oswaldo Neri guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division, Bellevue Police Department, Omaha Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Chemistry Unit provide laboratory services for the investigation.