Iowa Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Methamphetamine Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced October 2, 2014, to four years in federal prison.

Jeremy Rabenberg, 40, from Hartley, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 10, 2014, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Rabenberg admitted he was involved in the distribution of at least 1500 grams of mixed methamphetamine which contained 500 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine from approximately 2013 through February 2014.  On January 29, 2014, during the early morning hours, Spencer Police Officers responded to a call and located Rabenberg asleep in his vehicle (with engine running) parked outside a bar.  Officers seized about $5,000 in cash and about two grams of methamphetamine from the center console of the vehicle and a .380 caliber Berretta handgun with seven rounds in the loaded magazine from between the front passenger seat and the center console.  Later on the same date, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rabenberg’s residence.  Law enforcement seized approximately 354.58 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, $7,200 in U.S. currency and a number of firearms from Rabenberg’s bedroom.  

Rabenberg was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Rabenberg was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Rabenberg 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 assisted by the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Orange City Police Department, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 14-4025.