DAVENPORT, IA – On February 25, 2013, Leslie Wade Hardin, age 42, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 147 months imprisonment for conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Hardin to 5 years supervised release.

Between August 2011 and March 7, 2012, Hardin manufactured at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine at a residence in Davenport, Iowa, owned by Steven Michael Gruetzmacher. In his plea agreement, Hardin admitted that he, Gruetzmacher, and Travis Lee Meier pooled together ingredients to manufacture methamphetamine and manufactured it at the residence on a regular basis. Some of the methamphetamine was consumed for personal use while some was distributed to various customers. Hardin also admitted to constructive possession of various firearms located at that residence, and that his possession of the firearms was with the intent that they advance, assist, or help the drug conspiracy.

Hardin’s co-conspirators have already been sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. On February 1, 2013, Gruetzmacher, age 46, of Davenport, Iowa was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release for conspiring to manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On November 29, 2012, Meier, age 21, of Davenport, Iowa was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, and 4 years supervised release for conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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