South Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

South Sioux City, Nebraska man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine around the tristate area was sentenced December 17, 2021, to 10 years in federal prison.  Jose Elorza, age 25, received the prison term after an August 5, 2021, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

In a plea agreement, Elorza admitted to selling methamphetamine (approximately 3 pounds total) in March 2021. 

Elorza was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Elorza 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 Ron Timmons 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 at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 21-4039.

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