Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
John Francis, a 23-year-old Canadian, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after he was convicted of drug and firearm charges. According to Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen, Francis received his sentence in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 27, 2025, for one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Francis to a total of 181 months' imprisonment. Following his release, Francis will be subject to a three-year term of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole in the federal system.
The events leading to Francis's arrest unfolded on March 4, 2023, when a Saline County Sheriff's Deputy, engaged in patrol and drug interdiction duties on westbound I-80, attempted to stop a 2023 Chevy Tahoe driven by Francis. Rather than complying, Francis accelerated, initiating a high-speed chase that stretched for around 50 miles over a span of three counties. The pursuit involved officers from six different law enforcement departments due to the Tahoe's rapid speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Eventually, officers deployed spike strips across the interstate three times to halt the speeding vehicle, which caused three of the Tahoe's tires to fail. The vehicle stopped in the middle of the interstate's passing lane, where Francis surrendered by exiting the vehicle with his hands raised before lying down on the ground.
After his arrest, law enforcement identified Francis, the lone occupant of the vehicle, and discovered another individual's Canadian driver's license in the Tahoe. Inside the vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun in the cupholder and a duffle bag holding approximately 6.65 pounds of crystalline MDMA. In addition, more than $6,000 and various drug trafficking indicators were located with Francis and inside the vehicle. As a result, the cash amount was forfeited to the United States as proceeds derived from drug trafficking activities.
Initially pleading not guilty, Francis was found guilty by a federal jury on November 13, 2024. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Seward County Sheriff's Office, York County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Lincoln Police Department.
