District of Nebraska | Omaha Drug Dealer Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy and Firearms Crimes

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Steven Sainsbury, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sainsbury to 240 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge for a total sentence of 300 months in the Bureau of Prisons.  There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.

On March 31, 2021, an Omaha Police confidential source purchased more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from Sainsbury, an Omaha-based methamphetamine dealer.  A search of his home resulted in the seizure of more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of heroin, 14 grams of cocaine, a Glock 10mm handgun, and $5,744 in United States currency.

In an interview with police, Sainsbury provided police with the name of his supplier: co-defendant Jose Leyva-Martinez.  With this information, officers searched Leyva-Martinez’s home, seizing nearly 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, money transfer receipts, ammunition, 2 drug scales, vehicle titles for a gray Toyota Tacoma, a gray Honda civic, and a black GMC 1500, a money counter, drug ledger, jewelry, $468,990.00 in United States currency, and an Astra 9mm handgun.  The handgun was found in a bedroom near $28,000 in United States currency.

Leyva-Martinez admitted to being a methamphetamine supplier and distributor for the Sinaloa Cartel.  He admitted that all three vehicles and the residence were put in his name at the direction of the Cartel.  Law enforcement estimated that the seized currency represented cash proceeds from the sale of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine.  This was confirmed by Leyva-Martinez and Sainsbury, both of whom admitted to distributing between 1-3 pounds of methamphetamine, per day, over the course of the previous several months. 

Leyva-Martinez’s home, vehicles, monies, and other valuables were seized by law enforcement as proceeds of narcotics trafficking.  For his part in the conspiracy, Leyva-Martinez was sentenced to 270 months in the Bureau of Prisons followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.