A 45-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison for transporting drugs on a train. United States Attorney Susan Lehr says Matthew Eriksen was sentenced on Thursday for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and a detectable amount of marijuana.
Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force investigators received information indicating Eriksen was transporting drugs to Lincoln from Denver, Colorado, on Amtrak and that Eriksen and his girlfriend would be arriving in Lincoln on December 6, 2023.
Investigators were waiting as Eriksen and his girlfriend got off the train in Lincoln with several pieces of luggage. Eriksen had a backpack, a rolling luggage bag, and a duffel bag. His girlfriend had a purse, a backpack, and a rolling luggage bag. According to the US Attorney’s Office, she admitted she had a small amount of marijuana in her purse.
A search of her luggage resulted in the discovery of a quarter ounce of meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Eriksen denied having any drugs. A search warrant was then obtained for Eriksen’s bags and during the search investigators found plastic bags containing meth, marijuana, additional plastic bags, and a scale.
Testing at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab showed a total of five pounds of a meth mixture. There is no parole in the federal system. After Eriksen’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.