LINCOLN, Neb. -- A 46-year-old McCook woman was sentenced to prison following a federal meth conviction.

Acting U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced Thursday that Andrea Hall was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to deliver five grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard gave Hall 57 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

On June 20, 2020, Hall and James Essex were stopped by law enforcement when Colorado police notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation that they had just left a stash house in Colorado that law enforcement officials had been watching. 

Officers from the McCook Police Department set up surveillance outside of McCook and observed the vehicle. They stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and noted smelling the odor of burnt marijuana coming from within the vehicle. 

Law enforcement searched and found 46 grams of actual methamphetamine. Hall admitted going to Colorado to purchase the methamphetamine and that some of it would be sold.

Essex pleaded guilty to related charges in Red Willow County District Court and was sentenced to 5-8 years in prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCook Police Department.