Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen has announced the sentencing of Venetia A. Torres, a 44-year-old resident of Valentine, Nebraska, for her involvement in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy. The sentencing took place on March 7, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Torres to 192 months for the drug offense and 180 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm, with both sentences to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system, and upon release from prison, Torres will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
The case originated on May 9, 2023, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) searched a USPS Priority Mail parcel sent from Beaumont, California to Broomfield, Colorado. The package contained counterfeit pills with fentanyl weighing a gross total of 1,075 grams. Another parcel from the same sender was addressed to Valentine, Nebraska. This package weighed 2 pounds and 13 ounces and featured fictitious return addresses and recipients.
On June 7, 2023, Venetia Torres attempted to retrieve this package by approaching a postal contractor. Prior attempts were made by Torres two weeks earlier to collect another package addressed to an unassigned trailer mailbox.
A suspicious parcel was located at the North Platte Processing and Distribution Facility on June 8, 2023. After obtaining a federal search warrant, authorities discovered approximately 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine inside.
On June 9, Aaron Torres and his minor brother retrieved the methamphetamine-containing package from the post office but were detained and questioned by officers soon after.
Venetia Torres admitted knowledge of this package as well as two previous packages containing methamphetamine received on May 22 and May 3 of that year during questioning at the police department. In her vehicle was found a Hi-Point .45 caliber handgun which she acknowledged knowing about despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
The narcotics seized were tested at a forensic laboratory confirming they consisted of approximately 1,700 grams of methamphetamine with a purity level of 98%.
Aaron Torres pled guilty to drug conspiracy charges on December 6, 2024; his sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2025.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
