Man to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced December 3, 2015, to more than six years in federal prison.

Joe Edward Leal, 49, from Hartley, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 1, 2015, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  

At the guilty plea, Leal admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from about July 2013 and continuing through May 2014 that distributed more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  On three occasions in January and February 2014, Leal distributed over 53 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.

Leal was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Leal was sentenced to 81 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.

Leal 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, Sheldon, Iowa Police Department, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation. 

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

The case file number is 15-4005.

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