Federal court convicts former high school assistant coach of producing child pornography

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Below is a summary of sentences handed down last week in federal court in Omaha, according to updates Monday from Acting U.S. Attorney Steven Russell.

The Acting U.S. Attorney’s Office in Omaha reminds the public that there is no parole in the federal system.

Darrian K. Grant, 24, Macy’s was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to one year for failing to register as a sex offender. In an investigation with the US Marshals Service, Grant was convicted of child sexual abuse in June 2020 and is due to register. It was reported that the address used to register last June was an empty lot near the Omaha Housing Authority’s Jackson Tower. Officials contacted Jackson Tower and according to the statement, they said he had lived in the tower for two days last December, but from early January Grant was living with his family on the Indian reservation. from Omaha to Macy’s. His registration was never updated on the Omaha Indian Reservation.

Brandy Williamson, 41, of Arizona, was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. to six years for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with Omaha Police, officials said Williamson was linked to a drug conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine between August and October 2020. The statement said she trafficked approximately 16 meth pounds from Arizona to Omaha for distribution. The 16 pounds of methamphetamine were sized in Williamson’s hotel room during a search in October 2020.

Nicolas Holder, 43 years old, of Grand Island was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol, a sheriff responded to a car in a Butler County ditch last January. They made contact with the driver, later identified as Holder, who the statement said passed out as the car was moving. After obtaining consent, officials search the car while investigating Holder for drunk driving. During the search, they found methamphetamine, mushrooms and marijuana.

Katrina L. Coffman, 36, of Lincoln was sentenced Friday by Judge John M. Gerrard to 15 years for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine mixture, with a previous conviction for a serious drug felony. In an investigation with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, it was reported that a tip to officials implied that Coffman was in connection with the distribution of a methamphetamine mixture between January 2017 and February 2021 around of Lincoln. Authorities were able to determine that methamphetamine seized from a car during a traffic stop last February was to be delivered to him, according to the statement.

Nathan R. Rogers, 27, formerly of South Sioux City, Nebraska, was sentenced Friday by Judge John M. Gerrard to 15 years for producing child pornography. In an investigation with the Nebraska State Patrol and the FBI, it was reported that they opened the investigation after a sexual assault complaint was allegedly filed by Rogers last March. The complaint alleged that he forcibly sexually assaulted a minor while he was an assistant coach at the high school she attended in December 2020, the statement said. Officials say Rogers admitted to having sex with the minor during an interview with investigators and was arrested for first degree sexual assault of a child and child abuse. Her phone was seized during her arrest last March and the statement further states that investigators found numerous videos of sexual activity with another underage woman on her phone who also went to the same high school as the other minor. . He was also ordered to pay $3,000 and the money will be donated to victims’ funds.

Terry L. Dill, 39, of Grand Island was sentenced Thursday by Judge John M. Gerrard to eight months for failing to register as a sex offender. In an investigation with the US Marshals Service, Dill was convicted of possession of child pornography in November 2014 and had to register as a sex offender. It was reported that he ran away from a halfway house in September 2020 while on probation. He was later arrested in December 2021 and officials say he did not check in during that time when he fled.

Julie Wilkening, 43 years old, of Louisville was sentenced Thursday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to more than three years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with Omaha Police, officials said Wilkening was arrested for driving with a non-working stop light in July 2020. It was reported that she did not provide a driver’s license and appeared nervous and the agents sniffed the air for free with K-9. K-9 detected an odor of drugs and officers conducted a search. About 141 grams of methamphetamine was found in the van and officers also found her license in her purse.

German Reyes Jr., 25, of Omaha was sentenced Thursday by Judge Brian C. Buescher to more than 15 years for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with the DEA, Omaha Police and Omaha Field Division, officials said Reyes helped Mexico-based supply sources distribute methamphetamine with accomplices between September and November 2020. It was reported that an undercover agent arranged several meth buys. in September 2020. Over 1,500 grams of methamphetamine were recovered during the overall investigation.

Leonard C. Woodrum, Jr., 57, of Lincoln was sentenced Thursday by Judge John M. Gerrard to 20 years for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. In an investigation by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, a soldier stopped a car in July for a traffic violation in Lancaster County. Officials say Woodrum was driving the car that was pulled over. During the traffic stop, a K-9 indicated drugs while sniffing the car. Methamphetamine was found in the trunk according to the statement, and cocaine, LSD, MDMA, numerous self-sealing bags and several scales were also found in the car during the search. The statement further states that a lab has confirmed that more than 1,000 grams of mixed methamphetamine was seized from the car. Authorities also seized a total of over $16,865 from his car which was ordered forfeited.

Tyshown Ashley, 31, of Omaha was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Brian C. Buescher to three years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In an investigation with Omaha Police, officers stopped a car Ashley was in on June 30. Officers found a loaded gun while searching the car under his seat and according to the statement, he admitted the gun was his. The statement further states that Ashley is a convicted felon.

Jordan R. Whipple, 28, of Bonesteel, South Dakota, was sentenced Wednesday in Omaha by Judge Brian C. Buescher to more than three years for manslaughter. In an investigation with the FBI and Santee Sioux Nation Police, it was reported that Whipple lost control of a car in Santee and crashed under the influence of alcohol in August 2020. The passenger of the car succumbed to his injuries in the crash.

Wesley Preister, 52, of Omaha was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Brian C. Buescher to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with Omaha Police, officers stopped a car Preister was riding in on Jan. 11 and they say he fled the car but was quickly caught. It is reported that he was arrested on an outstanding warrant and officers found a bag of meth which ended up being around 3.3. grams. According to the release, another bag of more than 26 grams of methamphetamine was found at the Douglas County Jail during a strip search. Laboratory tests confirmed that the bags were methamphetamine.

Zachary D. Ellis, 28, of Hastings was sentenced Tuesday by Judge John M. Gerrard to 10 years for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (real) and 50 grams or more of mixed methamphetamine. In an investigation with the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team, a confidential informant working with officers made two methamphetamine purchases last June from Ellis, the statement said. The lab confirmed that the first purchase was approximately 28 grams of meth and the second purchase was reported to be over 50 grams of meth and approximately 53 grams was actual meth.

Shawron Thomas, 47, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced last Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In an investigation with Nebraska State Patrol and the DEA, a soldier came into contact with Thomas while performing a routine interdiction on the Amtrak train in Omaha last January. It was reported that the soldier noticed possible drug dealing while talking to Thomas and officials said he had a suitcase at his feet under his seat. After agreeing to a dog sniffing the suitcase, Liberation State officials began a search after the dog responded to the suitcase. Seven packets of methamphetamine were found and one packet was taken to a crime lab for testing and the packet was found to be 100% pure methamphetamine. The statement further states that the seven packages weighed more than 5,000 grams in total.

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