Canadian National Convicted by Jury for Drug and Gun Charges after Interstate Pursuit

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that a federal jury in Lincoln, Nebraska, returned a guilty verdict on November 13, 2024, against John Francis, age 23, of Canada, for one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The verdict subjects Francis to a potential prison term of up to life and a minimum of five years on the firearm count. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis presided over the trial and set sentencing for February 6, 2025.

On March 4, 2023, a Saline County Sheriff's Deputy performing patrol and drug interdiction duties on I-80 westbound initiated a traffic stop of a 2023 Chevy Tahoe. Instead of slowing, the Tahoe accelerated, resulting in a 30-minute pursuit over three counties for approximately 50 miles, at sustained speeds of over 100 mph. More county Sheriff's Deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol were called in to assist with the stop due to the excessive speed of the fleeing Tahoe.

Officers had to deploy three sets of spike strips (tire deflation devices) across the interstate. The spike strips ultimately caused three of the four tires on the Tahoe to fail and caused the Tahoe to come to rest in the middle of the passing lane on the interstate. Francis emerged from the Tahoe with his hands in the air and immediately laid down on his chest in the median.

The driver and only occupant of the vehicle was eventually identified as John Francis, although another person's Canadian driver's license was found in the Tahoe. Francis had a loaded handgun in the cupholder and a duffle bag on the passenger seat. The duffle bag contained approximately 6.65 pounds of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in crystalline form. Officers also found over $6,000 and other indicators of drug trafficking on Francis and in the Tahoe.

This case was investigated by the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Seward County Sheriff's Office, York County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Lincoln Police Department.