A man who possessed with intent to distribute crack cocaine was sentenced March 12, 2012, to 6 years in federal prison.

Ryan Collins, 39, from Osceola, Arkansas, received the prison term after a November 4, 2011, guilty plea to possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1000 feet of the property comprising a protected location. On August 25, 2003, and November 24, 1997, Collins was convicted of delivery of cocaine both in the Circuit Court of Mississippi County, Arkansas, Osceola District.

At the guilty plea, Collins admitted that on June 12, 2011, in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, he possessed at least 5 grams of crack cocaine and intended to distribute some or all of the crack cocaine to another person. Collins possessed this crack cocaine with intent to distribute it within 1000 feet of a public school, namely Hunt Elementary School. Law enforcement officers were dispatched to a location where a person matching Collins’ description was reported to be selling drugs. Officer’s located Collins and during his contact with officers he was observed to reach into his sock and pull something out. After a brief altercation with officers, Collins was handcuffed and officers seized a baggie containing several rocks of crack cocaine (approximately 11 grams) that Collins had been holding in his hand.

Collins was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Collins was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Collins 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 was 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; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; 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 11-4087.

 

 

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