Nebraska
Nebraska man sentenced for tax evasion, payroll tax fraud
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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Beneath is a roundup of sentences handed down final week in federal courtroom in Omaha, in accordance with updates this week from performing U.S. Legal professional Steven Russell.
The performing U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Omaha reminds the general public that there is no such thing as a parole within the federal system.
Christopher D. Weaver, 49, of Hallam, Neb., positioned south of Lincoln, was sentenced Thursday in Lincoln for willfully failing to pay taxes. He was sentenced by U.S. District Choose John M. Gerrard to 6 months of group confinement, two years of supervised launch, and a advantageous of $10,000 plus a $100 payment. IRS felony investigators discovered that Weaver had didn’t file a 941 kind and pay belief fund taxes for his two companies, Structural Enterprises Inc. and SEi Millwright Service Inc., for about 10 years. He additionally deducted and picked up payroll taxes from his Structural Enterprises staff’ wages — a complete of $92,986.91 — however didn’t pay them to the IRS as required within the third quarter of 2016. He has since paid all payroll taxes due and has filed the required tax types, in accordance with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace launch.
James Finley, 38, of Omaha, was sentenced Jan. 13 by Choose Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 18 years and 4 months in jail for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In September 2020, Omaha Police was investigating Carla Colliers for distributing meth. In November 2020, police searched Collers’ residence and allegedly discovered roughly 900 grams of meth. Through the search, Finley allegedly arrived on the residence with a backpack containing 642 grams of meth.
Gary Ross, 24, of Omaha, was sentenced Jan. 13 by Choose Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to five years and 1 month in jail for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On Aug. 28, 2020, officers searched Ross’ condominium in Omaha and allegedly discovered roughly three kilos of marijuana, a handgun, a scale, and roughly $15,000.
Aaron Lee Kuntz, 44, of Lincoln, was sentenced Friday by Choose John M. Gerrard to fifteen years in jail for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or extra of pure meth after having a previous conviction for a critical drug felony. In June 2021, Lincoln investigators watched Kuntz’s residence in Lincoln. They noticed a automotive go away the residence and adopted it, later stopping it for a visitors violation. The automotive was searched, though the Division of Justice didn’t specify additional on how the police had possible trigger to go looking the automotive. Through the search, police allegedly discovered greater than an oz of meth on one of many passengers, who allegedly advised investigators they acquired it from Kuntz. A search was performed at Kuntz’s residence with a warrant and police allegedly discovered roughly 18 ounces of meth, plastic baggage, and scales. Kuntz’s prior conviction got here in 2006 when he was sentenced to greater than 11 years in jail for promoting meth.
Richard Knott, Jr., 35, of Minatare, Nebraska, was sentenced Friday in Lincoln to 12 years and 6 months in jail for possession of kid pornography. The investigation started with a foreign-based cloud storage web site the place customers posted two hyperlinks resulting in folders of kid porn. Investigators appeared on the IP addresses of individuals accessing the folders, and one allegedly lead again to Knott. In June 2021 a search warrant was executed at Knott’s residence and investigators allegedly discovered roughly 33,000 pictures and seven,000 movies of kid porn on his units. Knott was additionally beforehand convicted for possessing baby porn in 2012.
Christopher Hatcher, 45, of Omaha, was sentenced Friday by Choose Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 4 years in jail for distribution of meth. In April 2020 Hatcher allegedly bought meth to a cooperating witness working with police.
Domingo Zacarias Ciprian, 42, previously of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced Friday by Choose Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to at least one yr and three months in jail for illegal switch of a doc or authentication characteristic. Ciprian is a citizen of Guatemala and can be deported after serving his sentence. By way of earlier investigations, investigators say they discovered that Ciprian was promoting counterfeit paperwork. In September 2021, investigators arrange an undercover buy, together with a Social Safety Card and a Nebraska driver’s license. After the acquisition, they searched Ciprian’s residence in Grand Island and allegedly discovered 92 counterfeit paperwork.
Copyright 2023 WOWT. All rights reserved.

Nebraska
Nebraska volleyball home court renamed John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center

Starting this fall, the Nebraska volleyball home court will be renamed John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Board of Regents approved the name change on Friday.
The arena’s renaming is only part of the honors this fall. A bronze statue honoring Cook will be placed on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen has been commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook.
Cook retired from the Nebraska volleyball program at the end of January. During his 25 years in Lincoln, he took the program to extraordinary heights. He finished his career with a record of 883-176 and 32 years. This included four national championships and three AVCA National Coach of the Year accolades.
According to a press release from the university, Cook said that he is humbled by the honor.
“This is an incredible honor. I am truly humbled by all of it,” Cook said. “I am so grateful to Troy, the entire Nebraska administration and the Board of Regents for this recognition. The Bob Devaney Sports Center and Terry Pettit Court are named after two legendary coaches, and it’s an honor to be able to share the name of the facility with them. And to have a statue outside the arena just blows my mind. I’m so thankful for the run we had at Nebraska, and I know the program is in great hands moving forward. I continue to be amazed at the amount of support and all the messages I’ve received from Husker Nation since retiring in January. All of this just reaffirms what I’ve always said: There is No Place Like Nebraska.”
Cook undoubtedly left his mark on Nebraska athletics. Now, he will be immortalized forever.
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Nebraska
Nebraska lawmakers send school library bill to governor’s desk

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A bill that would allow parents, guardians, and school administrators to see what books are available at a school and when their student checks out a book is heading to Governor Jim Pillen’s desk.
LB 390, introduced by Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, passed 34-14 during a final round of voting on Thursday.
The bill, once signed into law, would require each school board to adopt a policy relating to access by a parent, guardian, or school administrator to certain school library information at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
School libraries will have to publish an online catalog of books in the district’s library and provide the opportunity for a parent of a student to be notified of the materials checked out by their child.
Parents can sign up for notifications should they choose to — that would include the book’s title, author and due date.
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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Tennessee Titans showing interest in Nebraska tight end

Throughout the pre-draft process, there has been much talk about the Tennessee Titans needing to add to their receiving corps. They have been connected to multiple wide receivers. They have also had contact with a few tight end prospects who have potential receiving upside.
In a recent article for Sportskeeda, NFL draft expert Tony Pauline added a new tight end to the list of players the Titans have shown interest in: Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II. While he didn’t mention where or when the meeting took place, he did say that Tennessee had completed it and that there could be some interest.
Fidone is a late-round prospect who appears to be rising in draft circles. The 6-foot-5, 254-pound tight end is more of a pure receiver than an in-line blocker and has shown the ability to stretch the field vertically with his combination of speed and catch radius.
As mentioned, he can struggle as a run blocker and must refine his technique and build functional strength before taking on a more significant role in an NFL offense. But his natural skills as a receiver give him a high ceiling and the potential to develop into a well-rounded offensive weapon.
The Titans would appear to have a solid tight end group heading into the draft. However, adding a dynamic receiving threat to the position could help fill the wide receiver room void by utilizing multiple tight end sets. Plus, with the team having six Day 3 picks, selecting a prospect with untapped potential could be enticing.
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