Grand Island man sent to prison on gun, drug charges

GRAND ISLAND Neb. (KSNB) - United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 47-year-old William Packer of Grand Island, was sentenced on Wednesday in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Packer to 12 and a half years in prison on the drug charge and a consecutive 5 years on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 17 and a half years. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Packer will begin a five-year term of supervised release.

The charges stem from a traffic stop initiated by officers in Norton, Kansas On April 6, 2021. Packer, a passenger in the vehicle, immediately took off running and dropped a backpack that was found to contain 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine.

Co-defendants Amanda Schnoor, who was the driver, and Clint Younger knew Packer was transporting the drugs and identified him as the person who took off running. The methamphetamine was being brought to Nebraska for them to sell and distribute.

Packer was later arresting on October 7, 2021 on the federal warrant for the April 6 offense. Additionally, he was found to be in possession of three firearms, another 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine, and $16,060 in cash.

This case was investigated by the Trident Drug 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.