Cornhusker State News

Michael W. Stroble, 32, of North Platte, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 138 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis on September 11, 2025. After serving his prison term, Stroble will be subject to five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods, "Between July 2022 and February 2023, Joey Romero, Jamie Hopkins, Michael Stroble, Luke Schwartz, and others conspired to sell methamphetamine in and around North Platte.  The group was responsible for the distribution of pounds of methamphetamine and was subject to multiple controlled buys, search warrants, and arrests."

The investigation revealed that by January 2023 Stroble and co-defendant Jamie Hopkins were living together and selling methamphetamine jointly. On January 17, a controlled buy involving Schwartz and Stroble took place less than half a mile from Hopkins’s home with agents purchasing 48 grams of methamphetamine. Another controlled buy occurred at Hopkins’s residence on January 30 involving both Hopkins and Stroble with the sale of an additional 36 grams.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hopkins's home on February 7, discovering several baggies containing methamphetamine in various locations throughout the house including a nightstand, bed, purse, floor, and toilet. Officers also found drug paraphernalia such as bongs and scales; pills; owe notes; spoons with residue; over two hundred rounds of ammunition; as well as empty baggies.

Stroble’s co-defendants received their sentences in late 2024: Schwartz was sentenced on September 5 to ten years (120 months) imprisonment; Hopkins received her sentence on October 17—also ten years—and Romero was sentenced December 12 for the same duration.

The case was investigated by the CODE Task Force—a coalition comprised of agencies across west-central/southwest Nebraska including 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). This task force covers a region spanning twenty-two counties.

"There is no parole in the federal system," emphasized United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods regarding sentencing outcomes.