Omaha Man Sentenced for Drugs and Firearms Offenses

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that William Birdhead, age 42, was sentenced today to 132 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. for Possession with Intent Distribute at least 50 grams of Methamphetamine (mixture) and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. There is no parole in the federal system. Following his release from prison, Birdhead will serve 5 years of supervised release.

On May 24, 2019, officers with the Omaha Police Department made contact with Birdhead while he was in his vehicle in the area of 48th and Martha Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Birdhead was in the driver’s seat and was reaching back into the trunk. When Birdhead saw the officers, it appeared like he shoved something between the driver’s seat and the console. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded semiautomatic handgun between the driver’s seat and the center console. In the trunk of the vehicle, the officers located an AK47-style rifle, loaded magazine, two muzzle breaks, and ammunition. Both of these firearms had been reported stolen. Behind the vehicle’s license plate, the officers located 63.254 grams of methamphetamine salt with 55% purity. During a search of Birdhead’s residence, officer’s located another AK47-style rifle and a revolver. Birdhead has two prior convictions for felony firearms offenses and a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence.

Marino Vidoli, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division said, “This case is yet another example of how ATF’s seamless partnership with the Omaha Police Department continues to remove violent criminals and armed drug traffickers from the streets of our community.  This case, and cases like it, make our neighborhoods safer places to live and play and should serve as a reminder to would-be criminals that there will be consequences for their actions.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a national initiative of the Department of Justice that was announced in 2001 to reduce and prevent violent crime and make the nation’s neighborhoods safer.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.