Date: 02-28-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Joel Medina

Case Number: 8:23-CR-43

Judge: Brian C. Buescher

Court: The United States Court for the District of Nebraska (Douglas County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Omaha

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Omaha, Nebraska criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Fentanyl Distribution.

Kansas Man Sentenced to Prison for 14 Years for Fentanyl Distribution

Joel Medina, 26, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced on February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for distribution of 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Medina to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Medina’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

In 2022, an undercover special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) established contact with a known Mexico-based fentanyl supplier. On September 26, 2022, Medina contacted the undercover agent by phone and set a meeting for September 27, 2022, for the undercover agent to purchase 300 fentanyl pills.

On September 27, 2022, the undercover officer purchased the 300 fentanyl pills from Medina at a prearranged location in Omaha. On October 21, 2022, the undercover agent made another purchase of more than 500 fentanyl pills from Medina in Omaha. Laboratory testing confirmed that the pills contained the substances ANPP (an analogue of fentanyl) and fentanyl.

On November 22, 2022, investigators responded to the hospital to investigate a drug overdose. Investigators contacted the victim at the hospital, and the victim identified “Joel Talamantes” as a fentanyl supplier. “Talamantes” was later determined be the Medina. The victim told investigators he received approximately 20 fentanyl pills and bags of cocaine from Medina about a week prior. The victim told investigators he agreed to sell fentanyl pills for the Medina while Medina was out of town and was to be paid a portion of the proceeds from those sales. The victim told investigators that he took one of the pills provided by Medina and woke up in the hospital. Investigators obtained text messages between the victim and Medina corroborating the information provided by the victim.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Medina’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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