Woman sentenced in Omaha for witness retaliation plot with Irish Mob Gang member

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Kansas woman was sentenced Tuesday for her role in a witness retaliation plot, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Juanita Gibson, 38, was handed a two-year sentence in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to assault a witness and attempted assault of a witness.

In fall 2021, the U.S. Secret Services was investigating Johnny Dolph of Omaha, a “shot caller” for the Irish Mob Gang, for financial crimes.

In September 2021, an accomplice of Dolph’s was arrested for forgery in Nebraska.

Dolph and his wife, Jennifer, tried to contact the wife of the accomplice to convince her to not cooperate with law enforcement.

Dolph, believing the couple were cooperating with law enforcement, put a “green light” on them. That’s mob slang meaning permission to carry out a hit or other form of coercive action.

In October of that year, a search warrant was authorized for Dolph’s Omaha apartment. After the warrant’s execution, the Dolphs began researching the judge who authorized it, as well as the Secret Service agent who was the affiant.

Dolph and Norwood also began providing people with information about the accomplice’s wife, including where she and her family live.

On Nov. 19, 2021, Dolph contacted Kate Ruth and requested that she travel from Kansas to Omaha to carry out the “green light” on the victim.

Gibson’s involvement began when she drove Ruth to Nebraska.

During the drive, Dolph sent the pair gas money over CashApp, inquired about their trip and provided parking instructions.

Ruth and Gibson stayed with the Dolphs, and the four researched the victim.

On Sept. 2, 2022, while being interviewed by the Secret Service, Gibson admitted that she and Ruth traveled to Nebraska at Dolph’s request to find a woman whom Dolph was looking for.

Gibson was not the first person sentenced in the scheme.

Dolph was sentenced on Aug. 17, 2023, for a laundry list of charges: felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm following a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, two counts of false statement during the purchase of a firearm, conspiracy to tamper with documents or proceedings, tampering with documents or proceedings, two counts of conspiracy to assault a witness, and two counts of attempted assault of a witness.

On Nov. 14, Jennifer Dolph pleaded guilty to making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, conspiracy to destroy evidence and conspiracy to assault a witness.

Ruth is currently pending trial.

There is no parole in the federal system. After Gibson’s release from prison, she will begin a three-year term of supervised release.