A 44-year-old North Platte man was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to serve 10 years in prison for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Luke H. Schwartz will also serve a 5-year term of supervised release upon release from prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says between July 2022 and February 2023, Schwartz and others conspired to sell meth around North Platte. The group was responsible for the distribution of pounds of meth. During January 2023, Schwartz and other co-defendants were responsible for the sales of a minimum of 106 grams of meth actual to a confidential informant (CI) working with law enforcement.
Schwartz was directly involved in two sales in January 2023, which involved at least 70 grams of actual meth. During the first sale, the CI set up the controlled buy with Schwartz. Law enforcement provided the CI with $600 to purchase an ounce of meth. The CI went to the pre-arranged buy location and provided Schwartz the money in exchange for a baggie containing a white crystalline substance. The State Crime Lab confirmed the substance to be at least 22 grams of actual meth.
The same CI set up a second buy from Schwartz. Law enforcement provided the CI with $1,200 to purchase two ounces of meth. The CI met up with Schwartz at a pre-determined location for buy to occur. The CI gave Schwartz the money and Schwartz gave the CI a baggie containing a white crystalline substance. The State Crime Lab confirmed the substance to be at least 48 grams of meth actual.
The case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
