Multiple punishments for a multiple offender

  • Published
  • By Wayne Amann
  • OSI Public Affairs

An eight month investigation into the illegal activities of a Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., senior noncommissioned officer, culminated in the offender being sentenced to 32 months in federal prison.

Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Reimers, 41, assigned to the 99th Communications Squadron at Nellis, was sentenced July 13, after pleading guilty in April, 2021, to one count each, of distribution of a controlled substance and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He faced the possibility of life in prison.

In addition to the prison time, U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson also sentenced Reimers to three years of supervised release. A military judge previously found Reimers guilty of 39 specifications in a general court-martial on March 11, 2021, during which he was sentenced to seven years of confinement, a reduction in grade to E-1, and a dishonorable discharge.

According to a Department of Justice release, Reimers sold large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from July to September 2019. He also trafficked an AK-47 rifle, a .25 caliber handgun, and a 12 gauge shotgun to various buyers without a Federal Firearms License.

He was arrested that same year.

The joint investigation was handled by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Las Vegas; Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Las Vegas; the Las Vegas Metro and Henderson police departments and Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 206, at Nellis.

The detachment played a significant role in the joint effort.

OSI Det 206 opened a joint investigation with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after LVMPD reported that Reimers sold firearms without a license to an undercover officer.

“Since Reimers was a military member, Det. 206 joined LVMPD and a DEA task force in multiple operations where special agents observed Reimers complete several purchases of various controlled substances, selling firearms illegally and possessing a concealed firearm on Nellis AFB,” said OSI Det. 206 Commander, Maj. Alex Meusburger. “OSI also searched Reimer’s property and found controlled substances and a device used to beat a random urinalysis test.

“Det. 206 provided specific information to the (law enforcement) team that we had obtained through our own investigative efforts, which allowed the introduction of an undercover agent to Reimers for the controlled operations,” Maj. Muesburger added.

In total, OSI provided valuable information needed for an undercover operation, plus surveillance support and search and seizure of evidence of Reimer’s drug possession and use. OSI special agents developed a rapport with Reimers during the interview process, so he was comfortable divulging what he had done.  

Reimers was retirement-eligible and had submitted his retirement request as the investigation was ongoing. However, justice caught up to Reimers before he made it out of the military. He entered the Air Force on April 12, 2000.

“The key to success in this investigation was the team effort, Maj. Meusburger said. “It required support from almost every agent at Det. 206. The great working relationship among OSI, LVMPD, HPD, DEA, and ATF cannot be overstated.”