Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Derrick Conley, a 23-year-old resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of ammunition as a felon. The sentence was delivered by United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis on May 1, 2025. Following his prison term, Conley will undergo three years of supervised release.
The case originated from an incident on June 11, 2024, when officers from the Lincoln Police Department responded to reports of a disturbance involving Conley. Witnesses indicated that during an argument, Conley displayed a handgun tucked into his waistband and later placed it in the vehicle he had arrived in. Officers recovered the firearm from the car; it was identified as a "polymer 80" or "ghost gun," which lacked a serial number and had an extended magazine with a machinegun conversion device known as a "Glock switch." The firearm was loaded with 9mm ammunition.
Conley's criminal history includes prior convictions for attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person and theft by unlawful taking in Douglas County, Nebraska. Both offenses carried potential imprisonment terms exceeding one year.
The investigation leading to Conley's sentencing was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through community cooperation and strategic law enforcement efforts. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN emphasizes trust-building within communities, support for violence prevention organizations, focused enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
