Kearney drug investigation uncovers 25 pounds of marijuana, illegal guns

A Kearney man is behind bars following a multi-department investigation into drug distribution.

February 27, 2026Updated: February 27, 2026
By Michael Shively

KEARNEY, Neb. — A Kearney man is behind bars following a multi-department investigation into drug distribution.

The Nebraska State Patrol says troopers, Kearney police officers and a special regional drug task force arrested 29-year-old Austin Dean on Thursday. According to a news release, investigators served a search warrant at a storage unit and found 25 pounds of marijuana, 1,699 THC vape cartridges, 879 grams of THC wax, 4 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and five firearms.

Then, they searched Dean’s home in Kearney. Troopers arrested him and found 787 grams of marijuana, 105 THC vape cartridges, 269 dosage units of LSD, and additional psilocybin mushroom products.

The State Patrol says Dean was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of a controlled substance, and five counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Additional charges are possible.

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