A man who possessed firearms and conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine was sentenced February 18, 2010, to 15 years in federal prison.

Matthew Brockway, 30, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 5, 2009, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of firearms, conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and manufacturing or attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. Brockway was previously convicted of three felony drug offenses in Iowa District Court for Webster County: conspiracy to possess methamphetamine and/or amphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance without a tax stamp on November 1, 1999; possession of marijuana without having the required tax stamp on October 14, 1997; and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver as an habitual felon on October 9, 2003.

At the guilty plea, Brockway admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area from about 2006 through May 2008. During the conspiracy, Brockway was involved in the manufacture and distribution of at least 1500 grams of methamphetamine. From May 2007 to May 2008, Brockway manufactured methamphetamine at least 50 times and obtained at least ½ ounce of methamphetamine each time. Brockway had several people bring him pseudoephedrine pills and other supplies for the manufacture of methamphetamine. From 2006 to May 2007, Brockway regularly distributed ½ to one ounce of methamphetamine to several customers in the Fort Dodge area. On November 16, 2007, in Fort Dodge, Brockway possessed three firearms while he attempted to elude officers in a car chase.

Brockway was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Brockway was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $400 was imposed. He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brockway is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; Webster County Sheriff’s Office; Fort Dodge Police Department; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 08-3026.

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