The United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that 39-year-old Erika Vargas, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced Wednesday by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 10 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.

Following her prison term, Vargas will serve eight years on supervised release. 

In May of 2019, an informant working with law enforcement contacted Vargas to purchase methamphetamine. 

In September of 2019, the informant contacted Vargas again to purchase methamphetamine.  She agreed to sell the informant half an ounce of methamphetamine and on the way to their meeting location, Vargas contacted the informant and stated that she had already sold the half-ounce of methamphetamine but had more coming. 

Once the informant arrived at the agreed location, Vargas introduced the informant to another supplier who then provided the informant with half an ounce of methamphetamine.

Vargas had previously been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in 2004, which increased her penalties for this case.