NORTH PLATTE, Neb. - A North Platte man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking ring that moved large quantities of methamphetamine into Nebraska.

Guadalupe Ramirez, 40, also known as “Shrek,” was identified as a top leader in a multi-state drug operation that trafficked meth from California and Mexico through the U.S. Postal Service. At sentencing, the court found that between 15 and 45 kilograms of meth were distributed in Nebraska through the conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bazis told Ramirez he was essentially “the second in command” of the operation and added, “A lot of drugs moved through Nebraska because of you.”

Investigators say Ramirez was also tied to firearms. According to court records, his Facebook profile included conversations about guns and a public video showing him firing a weapon from a vehicle he used to deliver drugs.

The case was part of a multi-year investigation that began in 2021 and resulted in 36 federal indictments, 22 local arrests, and the seizure of drugs, cash, and firearms.

“The trafficking of drugs into our communities is not a victimless crime,” said Eugene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Omaha Division. “It has a destructive effect on our neighborhoods and families.”

The investigation was named the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) 2024 Community Impact Operation of the Year. In presenting the award, Midwest HIDTA Director Dan Neill said that the case stood out even among those from larger cities, such as St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.

 “The outstanding work of the CODE Task Force demonstrates that full prosecutorial and investigation collaboration can accomplish tremendous outcomes in the interest of making Nebraska an even safer place for its citizens to call home,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods.

The CODE Task Force includes the FBI, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and numerous local police departments and sheriff’s offices across a 22-county area. Additional support came from the U.S. Postal Service, several local prosecutors, and specialized drug enforcement task forces across Nebraska.