West Burlington Woman Sentenced on Federal Gun and Drug Charges
Davenport, IA- On August 9, 2009, Crystal Jade Schnedler, 26, of West Burlington, IA, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to knowingly manufacture and distribute at least 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 120 months imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. Schnedler was also sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, with that sentence to be consecutive to the other two, for a total imprisonment of 180 months. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey ordered that Schnedler will serve a term of 5 years supervised release following her incarceration and pay an assessment of $300 to Crime Victims Fund. In addition, the Court ordered Schnedler to pay $4969.00 in restitution to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to reimburse them for clean-up expenses related to the offense and $16, 553.34 to the Iowa Municipalities Workers Compensation Association for expenses related to the medical treatment of a Louisa County Deputy Sheriff who was injured during the investigation.
The charges stemmed from a traffic stop of a vehicle that was found to contain various items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine. Schnedler, a passenger, was one of three individuals in the vehicle. The driver was Blaine Adam Dial. Another passenger, Jason Dean Atkinson, was in possession of a Bohmische Waffenfabrik (German made) .32 caliber handgun. A Remington 870 Magnum Express 12 gauge shotgun was found in the trunk. During the search of the vehicle a Louisa County Deputy Sheriff was exposed to chemicals related to methamphetamine manufacturing. That exposure resulted in ongoing health problems for the deputy.
This investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.