United States Attorney's Office
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Celso Carillo, 44, of Beryl, Utah, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Senior United States Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Carillo to 121 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Carillo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On January 10, 2023, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped a car driven by Alfonso Carillo, in which Celso Carillo was a passenger, for license plate violations near North Platte, Nebraska. Celso Carillo admitted he had two THC vape cartridges in the car. Alfonso Carillo had a pipe with methamphetamine residue on his person. As a result, the vehicle was searched.
Three packages of fentanyl weighing a total of 6.6 pounds were found. Later, additional information was developed which led investigators to do an additional search of the vehicle. During that search, an additional package of fentanyl weighing 2.5 pounds was found, for a total of 9.1 pounds.
While incarcerated in Lincoln County, Celso Carillo wrote two letters taking responsibility for the drugs. Alfonso Carillo, believed to be Celso Carillo’s nephew, pleaded guilty to a state felony charge of possession of meth in Lincoln County and was sentenced to 364 days in jail in June of 2023. He was given credit for time served and was released. He was federally indicted with Celso Carillo in August of 2023, but his whereabouts are currently unknown.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.