Estherville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Methamphetamine Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced February 12, 2014, to more than 4 years in federal prison.

Jose Lopez, Jr., 25, from Estherville, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 23, 2013, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Lopez, Jr. admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from 2009 through May 2013 that distributed more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Lopez, Jr. and a co-defendant traveled to Wisconsin and Minnesota to obtain methamphetamine for later distribution in Iowa.  On multiple occasions Lopez, Jr., distributed methamphetamine to undercover officers. 

Lopez, Jr. was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Lopez, Jr. was sentenced to 59 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Lopez, Jr. 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 investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4048.