North Platte woman sentenced for distribution of methamphetamine

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jessica Binegar, a.k.a. “Jessica Keo”, 8, of North Platte, was sentenced on Dec. 12, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of distribution of five grams or more of meth. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Binegar to a total of 43 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Binegar’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

Beginning in 2021, the FBI and CODE Drug Task Force opened an investigation into drug trafficking in the North Platte area. March of 2022, law enforcement set up a controlled buy over Facebook with a confidential informant. In the course of the buy, Binegar was observed approaching the buy location. She was also heard on the recorded audio associated with the buy. Through surveillance and debriefings, law enforcement learned that Binegar was the source of the meth that was sold during the controlled buy.

The meth purchased by the CI was turned over to law enforcement and sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, where it was confirmed to be 12.9 grams of meth with 100% purity for 12 grams of actual meth.

Subsequently, law enforcement was able to conduct three additional controlled buys with Binegar, all for meth.

This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office, Frontier County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.