North Platte Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joey G, Romero, age 37, of North Platte, was sentenced on December 12, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Romero to a total of 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Romero’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

Between July 2022 and February 2023, Romero, Jamie Hopkins, Michael Stroble, Luke Schwartz, and others conspired to sell meth in and around North Platte, Nebraska.  The group was responsible for the distribution of pounds of meth and was subject to multiple controlled buys, search warrants, and arrests.  During the life of the conspiracy, a Confidential Informant (“CI”) made purchases from each co-conspirator. 

In July and August 2022, a CI made five controlled buys from Hopkins and Romero.  In these buys, the CI purchased 26 grams of meth and 10 pills.  The pills later tested positive for meth and fentanyl.

In addition to the CI, three other informants provided information on Romero’s role in the conspiracy.

Schwartz was sentenced August 22, 2024, to 120 months imprisonment. Hopkins was sentenced on October 17, 2024, to 120 months imprisonment.

Stroble’s case is pending, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).