Scottsbluff woman convicted of meth distribution sentenced to prison

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A 42-year-old Panhandle woman was sentenced Friday on federal meth distribution charges.

U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Shannon Rojas, of Scottsbluff, was sentenced in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Rojas was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon to 70 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Rojas will begin a four-year term of supervised release.

From October 2020 through November 2020, a western Nebraska-based task force utilized a confidential informant, who purchased a total of five ounces of meth from Rojas in Scottsbluff. The informant bought meth from Rojas three different times, with the purchases totaling $3,400. 

The case was investigated by the Western Nebraska Intelligence Narcotics Group, which is made up of the Nebraska State Patrol, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, Scottsbluff Police Department, and the Sidney Police Department. The Kearney Police Department, the FBI, Grand Island Police and Hall County Sheriff's Office were also involved in the investigation.

This effort was part of a multi-county drug enforcement effort using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, federal officials said.