United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - - James Shroba, Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division Office, today announced two additional individuals indicted and charged in DEA’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) “Alice in Wonderland” were sentenced to federal prison for distributing cocaine in southern Illinois. Nahum Shibeshi, 29, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, and Dana Bell, 51, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for their part in a $1.2 million dollar cocaine distribution conspiracy.

“These indictments culminate a wide ranging investigation into a nationwide drug trafficking organization,” Special Agent in Charge Shroba said. “Our partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were critical to breaking up this organization.  Those partnerships extend our commitment to keeping our local communities safe beyond the borders of a single state.”

Both Shibeshi and Bell were charged in an indictment from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois in February, 2016, identifying Shibeshi and Bell as couriers of drugs for other members of the conspiracy. That indictment charged eight co-defendants for participating in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine into the Southern District of Illinois from Texas. In addition to the drug crimes, the indictment sought forfeiture of $1,212,934 in US currency seized on December 2 and 3, 2015, along with jewelry appraised at $72,000. 

Earlier this summer, several co-defendants also pled guilty to their roles in this conspiracy, which determined the co-defendants were responsible for distributing at least of120 kilograms of cocaine within the Southern District of Illinois.

This case was investigated by the DEA and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois.