Career Offender Sentenced to Over 16 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine During a Traffic Accident

A man who possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 27, 2026, to more than 16 years in federal prison.

Mark Allen Mendenhall, age 53, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 16, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine.  

At the plea and sentencing hearings, Mendenhall admitted that on September 19, 2024, in Dickinson County, Iowa, he knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute approximately 40 grams of pure methamphetamine.  At that time, despite being a fugitive from the Iowa Department of Corrections, Mendenhall was working as a patient transport driver.  While driving a patient to an appointment, he crossed the center lane and struck a semitruck.  After being transported to a local hospital, he was found to have approximately 40 grams of pure methamphetamine concealed on his body.  A search of the vehicle he was driving revealed syringes, fake identification cards, fake United States currency, and other indicia of drug use.  Mendenhall has an extensive criminal history which includes 24 prior convictions, spanning over 25 years.  Due to having at least two prior felony convictions that are crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses, Mendenhall was categorized for sentencing purposes as a career offender.    

Mendenhall was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Mendenhall was sentenced to 199 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spirit Lake Police Department and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office.  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  
The case file number is 24-CR-04082.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.