U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr | U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the sentencing of Robert Vincent Harris, 57, from Lincoln, Nebraska. On November 25, 2024, in a federal court in Lincoln, Harris received a sentence for distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and possession with intent to distribute multiple drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced him to 240 months' imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. Following his prison term, Harris will serve a five-year supervised release.
The trial presented evidence showing that on February 14, 2024, Harris and the victim attended a social gathering and went to a nearby store for alcoholic beverages. Previously offering heroin to the victim about a week earlier, Harris was asked by the victim if he still had some available while they were en route to the store. After stopping at Harris's apartment where both snorted a powder substance believed to be heroin but containing fentanyl, they proceeded to the store where the victim later passed out after purchasing alcohol.
Emergency responders from Lincoln Fire & Rescue were called by a store clerk and administered Narcan to revive the victim who regained consciousness en route to the hospital.
On February 15th, authorities executed a search warrant at Harris’s residence discovering drug paraphernalia consistent with descriptions given by the victim. During questioning, Harris admitted providing fentanyl powder which led to an overdose incident involving the victim. He further confessed that he used more fentanyl following this event and purchased additional drugs believed to be heroin afterward.
Testing conducted by Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed fentanyl presence in both seized substances from Harris's apartment and in the victim's urine sample. A medical expert concluded that without Narcan administration during her overdose caused by fentanyl use; severe consequences or death could have ensued.
The investigation involved cooperation among various local enforcement bodies including Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force alongside Nebraska State Patrol as well as Lincoln Fire & Rescue.
