Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Meth

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 8, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.

William Thompson, 62, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  Thompson was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful user/felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2000.  Thompson was also convicted of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance as a habitual offender in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County in 2011.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from about 2019 and continuing to on or about June 8, 2021, Thompson and others who worked at the Madonna Rose Café participated in the distribution of approximately 10 pounds methamphetamine.  Thompson was the co-owner of the Café.   On four separate occasions between April and May 2021, Thompson distributed methamphetamine out of the Café to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.  In June 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Café building and seized approximately one pound methamphetamine from Thompson that he planned to distribute to others.   

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Thompson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by 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 21-4066.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.