United States Attorney Susan Lehr has announced the sentencing of Robert Vincent Harris, a 57-year-old from Lincoln, Nebraska. On November 25, 2024, Harris was sentenced in federal court for distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and possession with intent to distribute multiple drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard handed down a sentence of 240 months' imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. Following his prison term, Harris will serve a five-year supervised release period.
Harris's conviction came after a non-jury trial held in August 2024 before Judge Gerrard. The case involved an incident on February 14, 2024, when Harris and the victim attended a social gathering and later visited a convenience store to purchase alcohol. Prior to this event, Harris had offered heroin to the victim. On their way to the store, they stopped at Harris's apartment where both snorted a powder substance believed to be heroin.
After leaving the convenience store with alcohol purchased by the victim while Harris waited outside, the victim passed out upon returning to the gathering. Emergency responders from Lincoln Fire & Rescue administered Narcan after being alerted by a store clerk. The victim regained consciousness en route to the hospital and provided information during an interview post-release.
A search warrant executed at Harris's apartment on February 15 uncovered powder on a mirror and cut straws matching descriptions given by the victim. Harris confessed to supplying fentanyl powder and admitted using more of it following the overdose incident before purchasing what he thought was heroin again on February 15th.
Text messages found on Harris's phone included discussions about the overdose and arrangements for drug sales that day. Lab tests confirmed fentanyl presence in both the seized powder from his apartment and in urine samples from the victim. A medical expert concluded that without Narcan intervention, the overdose could have been fatal or caused serious injury.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force, Nebraska State Patrol, and Lincoln Fire & Rescue.