<body><div>Two more North Platte residents have been sentenced to long prison terms for dealing meth, U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced Thursday.They are the sixth and seventh local dealers to be sent to federal prison since early September. Both of them were arrested a coordinated round up of Nebraska suspects in late January and early February.Jamie M. Hopkins, 36, of North Platte was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.Eddie L. Houpt, 60, of North Platte was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) for distribution of 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. The actual amount was about 40 grams, Lehr said.The busts in late January and early February rounded up 29 accused Nebraska dealers, 15 of whom operated in west-central Nebraska.Lehr said Hopkins led an organization that sold meth and fentanyl in North Platte and nearby areas. From July 2022 to January 2023, an undercover informant made six purchases of meth from Hopkins and co-defendant Joey Romero. Lehr said the informant bought meth three times in July 2022, twice in August 2022, once in January 2023 from Hopkins and Romero. Their home was searched, and evidence seized, in early February 2023.On July 7, 2022, 6.2 grams of a meth mixture were purchased. On July 13, the same informant bought 28.4 grams of meth mixture in Hopkins’ car in a grocery store parking lot. Then on July 29, the informant bought 26 grams of actual meth from Hopkins and Romero.Two controlled buys occurred in August 2022. On Aug. 2, the informant bought 26 grams of meth from Hopkins in a hotel room she occupied with Romero. On Aug. 17, the informant bought 10 pills that tested positive for meth and fentanyl from Hopkins at her house.Officers converged on Hopkins’ house on Feb. 7. During the search, they found baggies of meth in the bedroom, Hopkins’ purse, and in a bathroom toilet. The baggies were tested by the State Patrol Crime Lab and measured at 35.85 grams of a meth mixture. Law officers also found 2 bongs, 29 pills, owe notes, 3 scales, spoons with residue, 224 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, a box of 23 rounds of Winchester 380 ammunition in a box, plus empty baggies, Lehr said.Romero, Hopkins’ co-defendant, pled guilty to similar charges. He will be sentenced on Dec. 12.HouptHoupt was arrested after an informant set up a controlled buy on June 12, 2022.Lehr said officers provided the informant with $1,300 for the buy. Houpt picked him up and drove around. During the drive, Houpt sold him a container with two baggies containing 42.68 grams of a meth mixture, including at least 40 grams of actual meth.There is no parole in the federal system. After Hopkins and Houpt are released from prison, they will begin a five-year and four-year term of supervised release, respectively.Lehr said both cases were investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team, a task force of law officers from the Adams County sheriff’s office, the Buffalo County sheriff’s office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island police, Hall County sheriff’s office, Hastings police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Kearney police and Nebraska State Patrol.© 2024 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved.</div></body>

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North Platte woman, man sentenced to federal prison for drug distribution

Two more North Platte residents have been sentenced to long prison terms for dealing meth, U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced Thursday. They are the sixth and seventh local dealers to be sent to federal prison since early September. Both of them were arrested a coordinated round up of Nebraska suspects in late January and early February.