United States Attorney Steven Russell announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 10 unsealed Indictments charging 12 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
* Ciprian Amariutei, a/k/a Steffano Ferrari, a/k/a Gianluca Ferrer, age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Mona Maria Tataru, a/k/a Maria Murino, age 32, of Los Angeles, California, are charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Amariutei and Tataru with illegal possession, production, or trafficking in device making equipment on or about April 23, 2023 and continuing to on or about April 25, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Amariutei and Tataru with possession of fifteen or more devices which are counterfeit and unauthorized on or about April 23, 2023 and continuing to on or about April 25, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Amariutei with aggravated identity theft on or about April 23, 2023 and continuing to on or about April 25, 2023. The penalty if convicted is an additional 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count IV charges Tataru with aggravated identity theft on or about April 23, 2023 and continuing to on or about April 25, 2023. The penalty if convicted is an additional 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency and property seized.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Latjor Gony, age 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Gony with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on or about July 21, 2020 and continuing to on or about December 28, 2021. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Gony with illegal possession of a machine gun on or about July 21, 2020 and continuing to on or about December 28, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Victor Aaron Gonzales, age 37, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Gonzales with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture), a detectable amount of cocaine and a detectable amount of marijuana on or about February 1, 2022 and continuing to on or about November 17, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Gonzales with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) on or about November 16, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five-years and up to life term of supervised release consecutive, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Dexter D. Hall, age 36, is charged with a prohibited person in possession of ammunition on or about February 8, 2023. The penalty if convicted is 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Thomas Janes, age 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography on or about March 9, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than five years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $5,100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Salome Juarez-Castro, age 24, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about May 22, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Miguel Angel Lopez Aguirre, age 30, is charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction on or about April 19, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Brian E. Nielsen, age 46, of Oakland, Nebraska, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about February 24, 2023. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* David Sikes, age 68, of Alma, Nebraska, is charged with harboring or concealing a person from arrest on or about January 17, 2018 and continuing to on or about January 14, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Criminal Chief Michael Norris at 402-661-3700 for further information.
* Alphonso Johnson, Jr., age 45, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Stacey Vanarsdale, age 36, of Lincoln, Nebraska, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Johnson and Vanarsdale with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), on or about July 9, 2022 and continuing to on or about August 10, 2022. The penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Johnson and Vanarsdale with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) on or about August 10, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than five years and up to life term of supervised release consecutive, and a $100 special assessment.
Contact Drug Enforcement Unit Chief Susan Lehr at 402-661-3700 for further information.