Fort Dodge Man to Prison for Meth Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced September 22, 2015, to ten years in federal prison.

John Quillen, Jr., 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 27, 2015, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine following a conviction for a prior felony drug offense.  Quillen was previously convicted of conspiracy against the rights of others/arson (cross-burning) and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 1999.

At the guilty plea, Quillen admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from January 2014 through November 2014 that distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.  Quillen also admitted to selling over 10 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.

Quillen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Quillen was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Quillen 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Fort Dodge Police Department and Webster County Sheriff’s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 14-3059.

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