A California man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Iowa pled guilty October 17, 2011, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

James Olson, 53, from San Diego, California, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, Olson admitted that from 2009 through about April 2010, he and others distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Clear Lake, Iowa, area. In December 2009, Olson delivered approximately one pound of methamphetamine to an individual in Clear Lake, Iowa. The methamphetamine was hidden in the door panel of the vehicle Olson drove from California to Clear Lake, Iowa.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Olson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Olson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and a period of supervised release from 4 years to life.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Clear Lake Police Department, North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Mason City Police Department, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 11-3017.

 

 

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