California men sentenced for transporting drugs, following investigation by HSI, NSP, and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force

BUFFALO COUNTY, Neb. – Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Katherine Greer and Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Hector Diaz Perez, 26, of Monterey, California, was sentenced on Oct. 21, by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 83 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual, with the intent to distribute. After he completes his prison sentence, Diaz Perez will also serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On Jan. 8, 2020, Diaz Perez and Abel Perez Valdivia were traveling east on Interstate 80 in Buffalo County when they were stopped by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper for driving onto the shoulder of the road twice. The two gave conflicting stories about their travel. Diaz Perez gave troopers consent to search the truck. Troopers then located 10 packages of methamphetamine concealed in the dash. The packages of methamphetamine were sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime lab where the packages tested positive for methamphetamine, one of the 10 packages was tested for purity, and it contained at least 420 grams methamphetamine actual.

Perez Valdivia, of Salinas, California, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2022, to 87 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of Homeland Security Investigations special agents, the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, and the FBI.

Homeland Security Investigations

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to combat drug trafficking in your community, on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.