San Francisco Man Sentenced to Five Years for Transporting Drugs Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nebraska Byline: Matthew R. Molsen Date: 8 February 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Interstate Highway System

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Alfredo Ek-Poot, 51, of San Francisco, California, was sentenced on February 8, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana with the intent to distribute. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Ek-Poot to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ek-Poot is released from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.

On November 4, 2021, Ek-Poot, along with Esteban Dejesus Huerta Rocha and Ricardo Jiminez-Noveno, were traveling east on Interstate 80 near Grand Island when they were stopped by a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol for driving at 87 mph in a 75-mph zone. Rocha was the driver, Jiminez-Noveno was the front seat passenger, and Ek-Poot was seated in the back. When the trooper approached the car, he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car and he saw a bag of marijuana inside the car. When troopers searched the car, a mason jar containing marijuana was located in the front passenger door compartment. A backpack containing a methamphetamine pipe was discovered on the front passenger floorboard. Rocha was searched and he had a small bag of cocaine in his pocket. In the trunk, troopers found approximately 8.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of marijuana, and 10.8 ounces of cocaine.

Ek-Poot pleaded guilty on November 3, 2023. Jiminez-Noveno pleaded guilty on August 30, 2022, and was sentenced on November 22, 2022, to a 156-month term of imprisonment, and a 5-year term of supervised release. Rocha pleaded guilty on July 6, 2022, and was sentenced on October 7, 2022, to a 135-month term of imprisonment, and five years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Matthew R. Molsen, Lincoln Branch Chief (402) 661-3700

Updated February 9, 2024