Lucas Ehly, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, appeared in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska on Friday, December 20, 2024, and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr and criminal documents filed with the District Court, in June and July 2023, Ehly sold fentanyl tablets to a confidential informant during two controlled purchases seen by law enforcement officers. The purchases were arranged by Rafael Magana, Ehly’s co-defendant.
Following the controlled purchases, on July 24, 2023, detectives acquired and carried out court-authorized search warrants at Ehly and Magana’s homes. During the investigation of Ehly’s home, officers discovered and seized seven fentanyl tablets from her bedroom.
During the investigation of Magana’s home, authorities discovered and seized over 1,000 fentanyl tablets and $6,800 in US currency. In a later search of Magana’s rented storage unit, police discovered and seized an additional 13,800 fentanyl pills.
Following his arrest, and after waving his rights, Ehly revealed to detectives that he had participated in fentanyl pill transactions coordinated by Magana. Ehly further told investigators that Magana compensated him with fentanyl pills in exchange for meeting with customers and selling the drugs.
Magana, 31, from Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on December 13, 2024. As part of his plea deal and sentencing, he agreed to forfeit the $6,800 confiscated during his July 2023 arrest. In September, a third co-defendant, Zacharie Stinson, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.