HASTINGS, Neb. -- A man from Hastings received 10 years of prison time on Sept. 20.

U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced that 28-year-old Zachary Ellis, of Hastings, was sentenced in federal court in Lincoln. Ellis received 120 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture.

Officials said Ellis will be placed on supervised release for five years after serving serving his initial sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, a confidential informant, under the direction of law enforcement, bought about an ounce of methamphetamine from Ellis at his residence in Hastings on June 3, 2021. A lab reportedly confirmed that the meth was about 28 grams of methamphetamine mixture.

Officials said the same informant, still under the direction of law enforcement, bought two more ounces of meth from Ellis at his home again on June 7, 2021. A lab reportedly confirmed that the meth was 55.94 grams of methamphetamine mixture, of which at least 53 grams was actual meth.

This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT).