Omaha Man Sentenced For Distributing Deadly Counterfeit Pills

Thursday, January 2, 2025, 8:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

OMAHA, NE.- On Friday, December 20, 2024, Lucas Ehly, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., to 57 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction of the Distribution of Fentanyl.

     According to U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr and charging information filed with the District Court, in June and July 2023, Ehly sold fentanyl pills to a confidential informant during two controlled purchases under the observation of law enforcement investigators. The purchases were arranged by Ehly’s co-defendant, Rafael Magana. 

     On July 24, 2023, following the controlled purchases, investigators obtained and executed court-authorized search warrants at Ehly’s and Magana’s residences. During the search of Ehly’s residence, investigators found and seized seven fentanyl pills from Ehly’s bedroom.

     During the search of Magana’s residence, investigators located and seized over 1,000 fentanyl pills and $6,800 in U.S. currency. In a subsequent search of a storage unit that was rented by Magana, investigators found and seized an additional 13,800 fentanyl pills.

     Following his arrest and after waving his rights, Ehly admitted to investigators to participating in fentanyl pill sales that were arranged by Magana. Ehly further told investigators that he was compensated with fentanyl pills from Magana for meeting customers and selling the pills to them.

     Magana, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on December 13, 2024. As part of his plea and sentence, he agreed to forfeit the $6,800 seized during his July 2023 arrest. A third co-defendant in the case, Zacharie Stinson, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in September to 57 months in federal prison.