Glenvil Man Convicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Luis Molina, 33, of Glenvil, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 22, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Molina to a total of 72 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Molina's release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On June 9, 2025, Molina and his co-defendants, Kenneth Palenzuela, Chanda Schroyer, and another individual, drove from Nebraska to Chicago in Schroyer's vehicle. Upon their arrival, Molina met with an individual to pick up a kilogram of cocaine. On June 10, 2025, the group began their drive back to Nebraska. After they entered the state, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper observed their vehicle speeding and conducted a traffic stop. Molina was the driver, Palenzuela was in the passenger seat, and Schroyer and the other individual were in the backseat.

The trooper smelled marijuana when he approached the vehicle and a search of the vehicle was conducted. A small amount of marijuana was found in a purse in the front passenger area. A black backpack was found under the seat at the back. The backpack contained a clear cellophane bundle of suspected cocaine. The state crime laboratory confirmed that the bundle contained over one kilogram of cocaine. A drug ledger was also found in the vehicle.

Palenzuela pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine on July 8, 2026. He was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release on October 15, 2026.

Schroyer pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine on January 14, 2026. She is set for sentencing on November 5, 2026.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol Commercial Interdiction Unit in Omaha Nebraska and the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which are made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff's Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).