Illinois Woman Sentenced for Transporting Drugs

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jennilee Janae Velez, 22, of Addison, Illinois, was sentenced on April 29, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of oxycodone. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Velez to 42 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Velez's release from prison, she will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.

On October 1, 2022, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper saw two nearly identical black Mercedes SUVs with Illinois plates traveling eastbound on I-80 in Seward County. A traffic stop was made on one SUV which was driven by Velez. Velez's passenger was Mia Williams. The other SUV sped away and was later stopped by a Saline County deputy who was working with the Seward County Task Force. That SUV was driven by Samantha Francisco, and her sister, Julany Rivera, was her passenger.

Both SUVs were searched after Williams and Francisco admitted having marijuana. In the SUV driven by Velez, more than 16 pounds of cocaine were found along with 393 oxycodone pills. In the other SUV, more than 24 pounds of cocaine and 66 oxycodone pills were found. Searches of Velez's and Francisco's phones showed the four women had traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles, where other persons loaded the drugs into the two SUVs. The four were headed back to Chicago at the time they were stopped.

Williams, Francisco, and Rivera were all charged in the same indictment with Velez. Their case remains pending.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, the Seward County Sheriff's Department, the Saline County Sheriff's Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).