Minnesota Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Convictions

A man who conspired across multiple states to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm was sentenced March 31, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.

Shawn Gaston, 32, from Fairmont, Minnesota, pled guilty on July 8, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from February 2020 through October 2021, Gaston and others distributed approximately 27 pounds of methamphetamine across Northern Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  In October 2021, law enforcement in Clay County, Iowa, attempted to effectuate a traffic stop on a vehicle Gaston was operating.  Gaston led law enforcement on a lengthy high-speed pursuit with Gaston’s vehicle ultimately crashing into a creek in Dickinson County, Iowa.  Gaston exited the vehicle after the crash and attempted to dispose of a gun and methamphetamine before being apprehended.  The gun and methamphetamine were found approximately 20 yards from the crashed vehicle.  Gaston was in Iowa to collect on a drug debt owed to him.  Defendant has multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of stolen property and possession of drugs.  These convictions prohibit Gaston from legally possessing guns.  

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Gaston was sentenced to 295 months’ imprisonment, and must serve a term of five years’ supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Gaston remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Spencer Police Department, H.E.A.T., Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force, Minnesota BCA, Worthington Police Department, Wisconsin DCI, Sauk County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, Iowa-Grant Wisconsin Drug Task Force, Crawford County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood 

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

The case file number is 21-4094.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.