California man sentenced to federal prison for mailing meth to Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A California man will spend over eight years in federal prison for mailing meth to Nebraska, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says.

Jose De Jesus Hernandez Castellanos, 21, was sentenced Wednesday in Omaha for distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Buescher ordered Hernandez Castellanos to spend eight years and four months behind bars.

Hernandez Castellanos entered a plea deal, and prosecutors dropped a conspiracy charge in return.

In July 2022, an undercover DEA agent investigated a group that was mailing meth to Omaha from southern California, according to the attorney’s office.

Hernandez Castellanos called the agent, who ordered a pound of meth, on July 15.  Around 850 grams of meth was delivered to Omaha 12 days later.

After his prison sentence, Hernandez Castellanos will start a 5-year-term of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

His co-defendant, 31-year-old Anthony Torres, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of meth.

Torres is in custody in Los Angeles County and awaiting trial on charges in California.