Omaha man sent to prison after Lancaster County meth bust

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A man is going to federal prison after getting caught outside Lincoln with a motherlode of meth, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Gary Payton, 40, of Omaha was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Lancaster County sheriff’s deputies pulled him over on June 29, 2022, near Highway 6 and 98th Street due to a broken taillight.

Payton’s license was suspended, and deputies saw an open alcohol container, so they searched the Camaro.

They found a gallon-size bag of meth where Payton’s passenger had been sitting.

A lab test determined that there were 193.7 grams of meth.

The average dose of meth is one-fourth of a gram, according to Sheriff Terry Wagner, meaning the bag contained more than 770 doses.

Investigators also searched Payton’s phone and found communications about drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After prison, he will spend five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Payton’s passenger, Angelica Agena, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of meth.

Her case is still pending, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.