A Colorado man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Iowa was convicted by a jury October 24, 2012, after a 2 ½-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Javier Torres, 29, from Denver, Colorado, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about 3 hours of jury deliberations. Torres was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance - cocaine, a felony, in the Colorado District Court for Adams County, on November 4, 2011.

The evidence at trial showed that Torres was involved in a conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine from 2009 through about August 2010. Torres transported methamphetamine from sources in Colorado to individuals in Iowa who would then distribute the methamphetamine to a number of different people in Iowa.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Torres remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Torres faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Fort Dodge Police Department, Mason City Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, and 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; United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 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 11-3014.

 

 

Return to Top