(Omaha, NE) -- An Omaha man is sentenced to five years in federal prison for his part in a drug trafficking ring.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says on Monday, 49 year old Anthony Moore was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Prosecutors say Moore will serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
Federal prosecutors say in October 2017, the FBI began investigating a suspected cocaine trafficking ring operating out of Omaha. In January 2018, a confidential source contacted Moore to arrange to buy cocaine. Investigators say Moore and a co-conspirator sold the confidential source an eight ball, or 3.5 grams, of cocaine.
Investigators say then in March 2018, a second eight-ball buy of cocaine was arranged with the confidential source and Moore. On March 8, 2019, an eight-ball weighing, 3.5 grams, was sold to a confidential source. Over the course of the investigation, the confidential source would make at least 12 purchases of cocaine directly from Moore or his co-conspirators.
Prosecutors say on June 20, 2018, United States Postal Inspectors seized a package suspected to contain drugs in Omaha. The parcel was shipped from San Francisco, California, and addressed to Moore at a rental property owned and controlled by Moore. Contained within the package was 520.5 grams of powder cocaine. Through investigation, including video surveillance, the sender was shown to be Moore.
Law enforcement applied for and received permission to intercept text messages and phone calls between Moore and his co-conspirators. Over several months, law enforcement monitored these conversations to identify the group’s hierarchy, source of supply for cocaine, and money transfers.
On February 17, 2019, law enforcement executed several search warrants, including one search warrant on Moore’s home. There, they recovered 133.1 grams of powder cocaine and $10,762 in US currency which was forfeited. Officers also found cutting agents, packaging materials, scales and paraphernalia consistent with drug distribution.
Co-defendants Isaac Johnson and Amanda Ferrell are scheduled for jury trial in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska on July 20, 2021.