Hannie Rice, a 67-year-old former resident of Oakland, Nebraska, received a substantial prison sentence for his role in methamphetamine distribution. On April 16, 2025, Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rice to 188 months of imprisonment, followed by a four-year supervised release. The federal system does not grant parole.
The investigation into Rice's activities began in January 2023 when a Burt County sheriff's deputy received information from arrested individuals implicating Rice as a meth distributor. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rice's residence on May 6, 2023. Upon being informed of his rights, Rice led deputies to approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine in his bedroom.
Authorities found that Rice was receiving substantial quantities of meth through the mail. Postal records revealed eight packages, weighing between four ounces and four pounds seven ounces, were mailed from California to his residence since the fall of 2022. This supported the information that Rice was receiving significant amounts of meth from a California source.
Rice's sentencing was affected by his criminal history, which includes multiple convictions in California for possessing meth and marijuana for sale. The case was a collaborative effort among the Burt County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.