Sioux City Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Meth Distribution Conspiracy
Contact: Peter Deegan
A Sioux City man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in an area methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
Sangvang Mekdara, age,30 from Sioux City, received the prison term after a December 19, 2011, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, each within 1000 feet of Cook Park in Sioux City.
Information provided by the United States at the sentencing and change of plea hearing showed Mekdara received multiple ounce quantities of methamphetamine from other people and resold it to others, and on at least one occasion the transfer was within 1000 feet of Cook Park in Sioux City, Iowa. Mekdara’s history of dealing methamphetamine goes back to before 2006. Mekdara was responsible for selling over 10 pounds of methamphetamine.
Mekdara was sentenced on June 14, 2012, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Mekdara was sentenced to 199 months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. A special assessment of $300 was imposed. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Mekdara 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 Jack Lammers and 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; U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department; 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR11-4118.
