Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession With Intent to Distribute Meth

Jarrami Berndt, 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, who, on two separate occasions, possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty December 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on August 10, 2024, Sioux City police stopped Berndt’s vehicle and observed Berndt throw something out of the window of the vehicle during the traffic stop.  Officers found the thrown object, a black bag which contained a scale, marijuana and over 13 grams of pure methamphetamine.  On May 1, 2025, Sioux City police conducted a traffic stop of a taxi occupied by Berndt.  Berndt admitted ownership of a bag found in the back seat which contained over 16 grams of pure methamphetamine.  Berndt admitted that on both occasions, he intended to distribute some or all the drugs to another person or persons. 

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Berndt remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. 

On October 4, 1999, Berndt was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, terrorism, going armed with intent, possession and use of an offense weapon (firearm) in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County.  These convictions constitute a serious violent felony conviction which subjects Berndt to a sentencing enhancement.  Berndt faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being 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 25-4029.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.