Federal Jury Convicts Sioux City Man for Meth Distribution Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was convicted on January 8, 2016, after a two-day jury trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Alberto Sanchez, 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.  The verdict was returned January 8, 2016, following about three hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that from 2014 through June 2015, Sanchez was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area.  Evidence at trial also showed that on March 30, 2015, and April 10, 2015, Sanchez distributed 83.4 grams and 51.1 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, respectively, to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.  Further evidence at trial showed Sanchez utilized a minor to distribute methamphetamine for him.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Sanchez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  On the conspiracy conviction Sanchez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  On each distribution conviction, Sanchez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Nelson and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.              

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 15-4037.    Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.