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Press Release

Sioux City Man Selling Meth, Cocaine, and Heroin Sentenced to Federal Prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa
Law enforcement seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, over 20 pounds of methamphetamine, over 40 grams of heroin, and two loaded guns from Yodprasit’s residence

A Sioux City man selling methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from his home was sentenced October 8, 2020 to more than 32 years in federal prison.

Monee Yodprasit, age 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 18, 2020, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

In a plea agreement, Yodprasit admitted that between June of 2019 and November 2019, he conspired to sell more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine.  On November 7, 2019, after law enforcement intercepted over 9 pounds of methamphetamine on its way to Yodrapsit’s home, officers executed a search warrant on Yodprasit’s residence where they seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 55.8 grams of heroin, two loaded handguns in the vicinity of the drugs, and approximately $24,000 in cash.  Yodprasit’s criminal history includes a conviction from the United States District Court for South Dakota, Southern Division, Case No. 98-CR-40170-1, for conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance. In that case, between May 1998 and November 1998, Yodprasit and codefendant, were distributing drugs, including multiple pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Both carried firearms during drug buys; and Yodprasit owned at least three firearms, including an AK-47 and two handguns. Yodprasit and the codefendant repeatedly traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and sold drugs out of hotel rooms.

Yodprasit was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Yodprasit was sentenced to 387 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“Yodprasit was a major source of deadly methamphetamine in our community - but not anymore,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan.  “Today’s sentence brings to justice an armed and dangerous predator who caused untold damage to so many, including those suffering from addiction, their families, and their loved ones.  Through the outstanding work of our tireless law enforcement partners he is done poisoning others and threatening our community and will spend the next 32 years behind bars.  I want to thank the DEA, the Postal Inspection Service, the Sioux City Police Department and all other members of the Tri-State Drug Task Force for continuing to take the fight to methamphetamine traffickers.  Today is a victory in our continuing battle against the plague of methamphetamine.”

DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Salter Jr. stated, “The DEA is fully committed to the unrelenting support of our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners in holding the line between decent citizens and families and those who traffic drugs and firearms and have no regard for civility,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Richard Salter Jr., said. “This case represents what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies and prosecutors combine and focus intelligence, technical and enforcement resources toward a common threat.  Our collective missions are to protect our communities and prevent illegal drugs and drug traffickers from stealing the futures of our citizens.”    

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and 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.  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.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.

Yodprasit is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

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

The case file number is 19-4088.

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Updated October 8, 2020

Topics
Project Guardian
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses