United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned nine unsealed Indictments charging ten defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Of those indictments announced, two defendants are from the Panhandle:
Sonia Martinez, age 39, and Andrew Juarez, age 36, both of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Martinez and Juarez with conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine beginning on or about January 24, 2024 and continuing to on or about May 9, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 10 years, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Martinez and Juarez with use and carry of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about January 24, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 5 years, and a $100 special assessment.