Grand Island meth dealer sentenced to 15 years in prison

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Grand Island man will spend more than 15 years in prison for selling meth.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that Zakaria Hassan, 30, was sentenced earlier this week for distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard gave him an enhanced sentence of 188 months in prison because he had a prior drug conviction.

In February 2021, Hassan sold about 113 grams of a meth mixture to a law enforcement informant in Grand Island. That batch had at least 96 grams of pure meth, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Seven months later, Hassan sold about 85 grams of meth to an informant.

Then in January 2022, he was arrested in Lincoln after officers found meth in his pocket and the engine compartment of his car.

Later that month, police searched his home and found drugs, paraphernalia and almost $16,000 in cash.

Hassan has forfeited his car and $17,533 in cash to the federal government because they were proceeds of his drug dealing.

After prison, he will spend 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.