Intent to distribute meth lands woman in prison for 15 years

OMAHA, Neb. -- A meth-related charge is sending a woman to prison for 15 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Steven A. Russell said 40-year-old Markisha Hill was sentenced in federal court in Omaha on Dec. 9. Hill was charged for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and will serve 180 months in prison with a ten-year term of supervised release after. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Omaha Police got a tip from a confidential source that co-defendant Phillip Goetz was going to meet Hill to buy meth near 72nd St. and Grover St. in Omaha on May 12, 2021. Detectives set up surveillance and watched Goetz go up to and enter Hill’s vehicle. The two drove to several locations but at a Taco Bell, Goetz got out of Hill’s vehicle and into a beige Jeep Grand Cherokee, which left the area briefly before returning. Goetz got out of the Jeep and back into Hill’s vehicle.

Officials said officers saw Hill commit a traffic infraction and stopped her SUV on Interstate 80 near the 60th St. exit. Goetz was seen trying to hide something in his jacket. After consent to search the SUV by Hill was declined, officers had a trained dog smell the SUV. The dog gave a positive alert and they searched the vehicle, finding one pound of meth in the SUV’s center console.

Authorities said co-defendant Phillip Goetz was sentenced on Oct. 20, to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.