Sept. 16, 2020 OMAHA, Neb. (DOJ) – United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced Ammanuel Jiel, 20, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher to 126 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of marijuana and possession of a firearm while drug trafficking. He will also serve 3 years of supervised release following his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Between August 31, 2018 and October 29, 2018, Jiel was responsible for selling marijuana and firearms on numerous occasions to a confidential informant posing as a firearms trafficker. Jiel was personally responsible for the sale of 16 firearms, many of which were stolen or had obliterated serial numbers. Jiel also sold several ounces of marijuana during these firearms sales.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhood. Project Safe Neighborhood is a national initiative of the Department of Justice that was announced in 2001 to reduce and prevent violent crime and make the nation’s neighborhoods safer. Jiel’s arrest was also part of Operation South Sudan Soldiers which targeted members of the Trip Set and African Pride street gangs.
