An Alliance man could face life in prison if he is found guilty of federal drug charges.
Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced Ryan Arrants, 43, of Alliance, was one of 17 people indicted by the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska. The announcement came on Oct. 21. He faces three charges: distribution of methamphetamine on April 20; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on April 20; and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on Aug. 9. The maximum penalty for Count I is 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The maximum penalty for Count II is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. The maximum penalty for Count III is also life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
According to court records, on Aug. 9, the Alliance Police Department served a narcotics search warrant in the 500 block of Cheyenne Avenue. During the search, officers located approximately 131 grams of a white crystalline substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine. Officers also located 93.1 grams of a green leafy substance, which field tested positive for THC.
Also during the search, officers located a digital scale near the 131 grams of methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia was also seized during the search.
“Ryan Arrants was present for this search warrant and showed investigators where the 131 grams of methamphetamine was hidden inside 501 Cheyenne Ave Apt. 1,” the Affidavit for Custody states.
Arrants’ girlfriend informed investigators that Arrants had sold methamphetamine to various citizens in Alliance in the days leading up to the search warrant being executed. She also told investigators that Arrants picks up large amounts of methamphetamine from Denver each week to sell in Alliance.
A case against Arrants based on the search warrant executed in August in Box Butte County District Court is expected to be dismissed as the federal case proceeds.