Merrill Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of Meth

Larry Snyder, Jr., 44, from Merrill, Iowa, was sentenced May 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.  Snyder, Jr. pled guilty on January 7, 2025, and January 30, 2025, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distributing methamphetamine.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from November 2023 through August 2024, Snyder, Jr. and others conspired to distribute 1500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area.  On four occasions in 2024, Snyder, Jr. distributed a total of over 650 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.  The last transaction occurred within 1000 feet of an elementary school.  Evidence further showed that on August 26, 2024, Snyder, Jr. and a co-conspirator were in possession of or involved with an additional 479 grams of pure methamphetamine.  In September 2024, Snyder, Jr. tried to elude law enforcement by means of a high-speed chase, and later, a foot-pursuit with law enforcement agents before his apprehension. 

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Snyder, Jr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  Snyder, Jr. was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following the imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

The case was 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 24-4064.  

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.