OMAHA, Neb. -- A trio of Omahans were sentenced in separate meth-related cases in federal court on Thursday.

57-year-old Robert Steven Root was sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Root received a sentence of 12 years in prison with a five-year term of supervised release to follow. Root also forfeited $111,399 that was seized as part of the investigation. 

Beginning in mid-2018, a Drug Enforcement Administration-led task force started investigating the methamphetamine distribution operation of David Duane Short, based out of the Omaha metro area. Root was intercepted on numerous occasions contacting Short via phone and text and was obtaining pound and ½ pound quantities of methamphetamine. When Root was arrested on May 27, 2020, he was in possession of $111,339 along with numerous indicia of dealing methamphetamine (scales, packaging, heat-sealed bags, etc.).  

At the time of his arrest, Root was on parole for a 2018 conviction for possessing methamphetamine.  Root was also previously convicted for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2003 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2009.

In addition to Root, several members of this multi-state drug trafficking organization have now been sentenced including Edward Glen Summers (Council Bluffs, IA), Kaden Henry (Wisner), Rose Ellen Points (Council Bluffs, IA), Chelsea Leigh Short (Omaha, NE), Christian Gonzalez-Gardea (El Paso, TX), Rex Lee Kmiecik (Omaha, NE) and Short.

Michael Allison, 52, was also sentenced on separate charges on Thursday, with Judge Joseph F. Bataillon handing him a 14-year prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. After his release from prison, he will also begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

When Omaha Police Department officers stopped Allison's co-defendant, Gregory Neeman, they found Neeman in possession of meth and $2,363 in cash. Neeman’s residence was then searched.

Using information developed during the investigation of Neemann, officers began to focus on Allison, who was arrested after he reportedly delivered two pounds of meth to a cooperating individual. A search of Allison’s residence yielded 28 additional ounces of methamphetamine (approximately 793 grams) and $54,327.00. All of the cash seized was forfeited as drug proceeds.

Neeman was sentenced on March 11, 2022, to 180 months’ imprisonment.

A third Omaha man was sentenced Thursday, with 58-year-old Arend Mathijssen receiving a 10-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of pure methamphetamine. He also faces an eight-year term of supervised release.

On October 29, 2019, officers with the Omaha Police Department were conducting a DUI investigation of Mathijssen when Mathijssen reportedly attempted to swallow a small baggie containing methamphetamine. Officers attempted to get Mathijseen to spit the baggie out; however, he did not comply and appeared to swallow the baggie.  Mathijssen was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for observation. While there, hospital staff located 22 grams of pure methamphetamine in Mathijssen’s underwear.

Mathijssen was previously convicted in 2004 for distributing methamphetamine.  As a result, his sentence was increased from 60 months to 120 months.

All of the above cases were tried in federal court. There is no parole in the federal system.