John Francis, a 23-year-old Canadian, has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug and gun-related charges. The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen on March 27, 2025, following a federal court decision in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Francis faced charges of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis handed down a sentence of 181 months in prison. Post-release, Francis will be on supervised release for three years, as there is no parole in the federal system.
The charges stem from an incident on March 4, 2023, when a Saline County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to stop a 2023 Chevy Tahoe on I-80 westbound for a traffic violation. The vehicle, instead of stopping, sped away, leading to a high-speed chase spanning three counties and covering around 50 miles.
Officers from six departments were involved in the pursuit. They employed spike strips to deflate the Tahoe's tires, successfully stopping the vehicle in the interstate's passing lane. Upon halting, Francis, the vehicle's driver and sole occupant, emerged with his hands up and complied with arresting officers. In the vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun and 6.65 pounds of MDMA. A subsequent search uncovered over $6,000, suspected to be drug trafficking proceeds, which were forfeited to the United States.
Despite pleading not guilty, Francis was convicted by a federal jury on November 13, 2024. Collaborating agencies in the case included the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Seward County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and Lincoln Police Department.