(Omaha, NE) -- A Texas man is sentenced to federal prison for a string of Nebraska pharmacy robberies.
On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced 30 year old Christopher Blanton, of Fort Worth, Texas, to just over 5 years in prison for his involvement in the string of pharmacy burglaries. After his release from prison, Blanton will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Blanton was also ordered to pay $24,917 in restitution.
Federal Prosecutors say from February 10, 2021 to February 12, 2021, seven Nebraska pharmacies, located in Springfield, Fremont, and Omaha, were burglarized. In response, federal prosecutors say a DEA-led task force was formed, which included the Omaha Police Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. Court-authorized warrants were obtained for cell tower data in the area of the burglaries, that when compared, established that specific cell phones were present at the different burglaries.
Federal prosecutors say it was determined from the data that the cell phones were traveling between Texas and Nebraska via Interstate 35. With cooperation from law enforcement agencies in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa, it was determined that two individuals involved in the pharmacy burglaries were Blanton and Christopher Williams. Williams is scheduled to enter a plea of guilty on May 24, 2023.
“DEA takes the theft and diversion of pharmaceutical drugs seriously, as many prescription medications are highly addictive,” said DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King. “This defendant was likely driven by the money he would get selling these drugs on the black market, but the cost to public health and safety is intolerable. By his thoughtless, criminal actions, he not only harms the individuals he’s selling to, but also the people who need those medications for legitimate medical reasons. DEA is dedicated to investigating these cases and ensuring access to prescriptions for those who need them.”