Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Heroin Charges

A man who possessed methamphetamine and heroin pled guilty February 7, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.

Jerry Rhoades, 44, from Peoria, Illinois, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of heroin.

At the plea hearing, Rhoades admitted that on May 25, 2018, he was found asleep in his car at a local motel in Woodbury County, Iowa, in possession of heroin and methamphetamine. Rhoades admitted he went from Illinois to California with $6,000 to pick up 20 pounds of marijuana but the deal failed – so Rhoades bought heroin and methamphetamine instead, which Rhoades intended to sell.  Rhoades further admitted to being a user of heroin and a seller (middle-man) of marijuana and methamphetamine.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Rhoades remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  On the methamphetamine conviction, Rhoades faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and three years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.  On the heroin conviction, Rhoades faces a likely possible maximum sentence of not more than one year imprisonment, a $1,000 fine and a term of supervised release of one year.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the 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.   

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

The case file number is 18-4081. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.