Des Moines Man Convicted of Distributing Methamphetamine and Two Firearm Charges

A Des Moines man and convicted felon who distributed nearly a pound of methamphetamine and possessed a gun was convicted by a jury today after a three-day jury trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Patrick Miller Webb, Jr., also known as “P.J.,” age 32, from Des Moines, Iowa, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine near a protected location, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  The verdict was returned this afternoon following about one hour of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that Webb drove from Des Moines to Dubuque to sell nearly one pound of methamphetamine during a controlled buy for $6,000.  Following the drug sale, officers found a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s seat of Webb’s car, where he had been sitting.  The drug distribution occurred inside a carwash that was located within 1,000 feet of a public playground located at Cleveland Park, Dubuque.  Webb has a previous felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver meth and was also a user of meth and marijuana.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Webb remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Webb faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $40 million fine, and 20 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Geocaris and Assistant United States Attorney Tony Morfitt and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 20-CR-1018.

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