Grand Island Man Faces 19 years for Drug Charges

A Grand Island man is facing 19 years for distributing methamphetamine.

A federal judge sentenced Austin Kober, 24, of Grand Island, Nebraska, to a term of 228 months’ imprisonment for distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. The sentence was enhanced because of previous offenses.

Following his sentence, Kober will serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On two separates instances in March 2021, Kober sold to an informant in Grand Island. One of the sales was confirmed to be 106 grams of pure methamphetamine by lab analysis. On May 26, 2021, investigator observed Kober driving, and stopped him due to traffic violation. Kober admitted to marijuana being previously in the car, and $699 was found on his person. A drug-detection dog alerted to presence of narcotics. A vehicle search revealed $1,500 in cash in the center console and a half-pound of methamphetamine in the back seat. A lab analysis confirmed least 240 grams pure methamphetamine.

A search warrant on Kober’s residence was obtained and investigators located a drug ledger, a vacuum sealer machine, vacuum sealer bags, marijuana, and a box of baggies.  Kober who admitted to dealing methamphetamine. Two witnesses told investigators they had received methamphetamine from Kober between 2020-2021.

This case was investigated by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.