Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Lonnie Mason, a 42-year-old resident of Grand Island, Nebraska, has been sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced the sentencing on May 7, 2025. Mason received a sentence of 250 months in prison from United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher. Following his release, Mason will be subject to a lifetime term of supervised release, as there is no parole in the federal system.
The case traces back to January 30, 2024, when Mason and Jolene Armentrout traveled from Omaha to Los Angeles to purchase 25 pounds of methamphetamine. Meanwhile, Robert Burkhardt and Stephanie Cummings drove Mason's car from Omaha to Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, they met with Armentrout and Mason. Subsequently, Mason and Cummings returned to Nebraska by air while Armentrout and Burkhardt proceeded to California by road to collect the methamphetamine. They then transported it back to Grand Island on February 4, 2024.
Law enforcement intercepted the vehicle during a traffic stop and discovered the methamphetamine hidden within a compartment. On the same day, authorities executed a search warrant at Mason's apartment where they found a stolen firearm, additional methamphetamine, ammunition, and evidence linking him to his recent trip.
Armentrout, Burkhardt, and Cummings have all been convicted for their roles in this operation. Their sentences were handed down by the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska: Cummings received 108 months' imprisonment; Armentrout was sentenced to 94 months; Burkhardt was given 57 months.
The investigation was carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration alongside the Grand Island Police Department as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies.
