Michael Reis, a 29-year-old man from Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher. Reis was convicted of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and sex trafficking of a minor. The sentencing took place on February 25, 2025, with both charges set to run concurrently without the possibility of parole. After his release, he will serve a five-year term of supervised release.
The investigation began on March 12, 2022, when deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to an unresponsive four-year-old at the Aspen Grove apartment complex. The child was later pronounced dead due to fentanyl toxicity at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. Investigators determined that Reis sold a fentanyl pill to Paris Hunt on that day, which ultimately led to her son's death.
DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell stated: “Today’s sentencing will not bring back the smiling four-year-old child who ingested a fake pill left lying on a table... Let this story serve as a tragic reminder that fentanyl in any form is deadly and no one is immune to this substance.”
Reis's conviction for sex trafficking arose from an investigation involving the Omaha Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In July 2022, investigators learned about Reis's activities through a runaway 15-year-old who was trafficked after meeting "Menace Primes" on Facebook—later identified as Reis.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito commented: “For years, Reis exploited those weaker and more vulnerable than him... This sentencing serves as a stern warning to those who seek to exploit the vulnerable.”
On September 5, 2024, Reis pled guilty to sex trafficking of a minor; subsequently, he was found guilty by jury verdict for selling fentanyl leading to the child's death.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Molsen remarked: “Today’s sentence sends a strong message... Those who distribute drugs... know their actions will face significant punishment.”
The case involved multiple agencies including Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, DEA Task Force Group 3 (TFG3), HSI Omaha Police Department among others.