A Long Beach, CA man was sentenced to 10 to 18 years imprisonment following a Dawson County traffic stop on August 23, 2021. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper observed an eastbound BMW sedan with defective lighting traveling on Interstate 80 near Lexington, at mile marker 235. The trooper performed a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the trooper and a Dawson County Sheriff’s Deputy observed marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana and Fentanyl. The driver, Alexis Murillo-Godoy, was arrested and lodged in Dawson County Jail.
Following a trial on stipulated facts, Dawson County District Judge Jim Doyle found Murillo-Godoy guilty of Distribution of Fentanyl.
During the sentencing hearing Monday in Dawson County District Court, Chief Deputy Dawson County Attorney Matt Neher asked for a straight sentence of prison time, noting that Murillo-Godoy was convicted of transporting five bricks of Fentanyl, which including the packaging, weighed approximately 5.2 kilos.
Defense Attorney Ken Harbison asked the Court for “mercy” in the sentencing. He acknowledged that Probation was not likely because of his immigration status. Harbison said the motivation for the offense was the “fear of what could potentially happen to his family”.
Harbison said he doesn’t believe Murillo-Godoy knew what the substance was that he was transporting nor appreciate the seriousness of it. Harbison said Murillo-Godoy also saved the court the time and expense of a formal trial.
Speaking on his own behalf, Murillo-Gody said he didn’t know what he was transporting and did so under threat by a drug cartel.
Judge Doyle said there was about 5,200 grams of Fentanyl in the case. He described it as an exceptionally hazardous drug under Nebraska law which corresponds with the higher penalties for convictions. He gave Murillo-Godoy credit for 468 days already spent in jail and ordered the $2,000 found in his possession to be forfeited to the State of Nebraska.
