Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on May 9, 2023, to 5 years in federal prison. 

Linda Fernandez, 69, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty January 26, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that between May and July 2022, Fernandez and others conspired to distribute over 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area.  On July 15, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fernandez’s apartment, and discovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine, drug distribution materials, and over $3,300. 

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Fernandez was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 3-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Fernandez remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was 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 22-4055.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.