Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

A man who conspired to distribute crack cocaine was sentenced July 8, 2015, to more than five years in federal prison.

James Lillard, 34, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 1, 2015, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

At the guilty plea, Lillard admitted his involvement with the distribution of at least 28 grams but less than 112 grams of crack cocaine.  On two separate occasions in July 2013, Lillard distributed a total of 4.9 grams of cocaine base to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.

Lillard was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Donald E. O’Brien.  Lillard was sentenced to 70 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.

Lillard 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 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR14-4071.

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