OMAHA, Neb. -- It was announced Friday that two men from New York and Wisconsin were convicted in Nebraska's federal court system.

32-year-old Michael Aponte of New York and 31-year-old Rawy Correa-Perez of Wisconsin, were convicted on May 19, 2022, following a jury trial in front of United States Judge Brian Buescher.

Aponte and Correa-Perez were both convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Sentencings for both men are scheduled for August 25, 2022.

Aponte and Correa-Perez are facing a term of imprisonment of at least ten years to life for each count. There is no parole in the federal system.

At trial, Douglas County Nebraska deputies testified that on February 26, 2021, they stopped a vehicle driven by Aponte for a traffic violation. Correa-Perez was a passenger in the vehicle.

Officials said that during the contact with Aponte and Correa-Perez, deputies noted several indicators of criminal behavior.

Deputies said they deployed Bezos, a certified drug detection canine, who indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 13, one-kilogram bricks of cocaine in the vehicle’s spare tire.

The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. DEA special agents testified to obtaining and analyzing electronic data that was obtained from Apple, Inc. for both Aponte and Correa-Perez. The electronic data contained photographs consistent with the drug trade. Special agents also provided expert testimony, including that the cocaine had a value of approximately $390,000.

In addition, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau assisted in the analysis of both the cocaine and fingerprints that were obtained from the cocaine packaging.

This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.