George, Iowa, Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine, distributed methamphetamine, and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced August 21, 2025, to more than 10 years in federal prison.

John Rothkehl, Jr., 40, from George, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 11, 2025, guilty plea.

Evidence at plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2022, through October 2024, Rothkehl and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine.  In September 2024 Rothkehl distributed methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.  In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle with Rothkehl as a passenger. A K-9 indicated the presence of controlled substances.  A search of the vehicle revealed over 35 grams of pure methamphetamine in the backseat with Rothkehl.  Rothkehl admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to another person or persons.  Rothkehl was arrested and admitted that he had a fentanyl pill hidden in his underwear.  Evidence further showed that Rothkehl made trips to Spencer, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska, to obtain methamphetamine to further distribute in the George, Iowa, area.   

Rothkehl was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Rothkehl was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rothkehl is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by 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; Homeland Security Investigations; 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, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn Wehde and Kraig R. Hamit.  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-4091.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.