Tri-State Area Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

A Sioux City man who distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in and around the Tri-State area was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.

Tyler Hugh Clark, age 39, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 18, 2020, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In a plea agreement, Clark admitted that between January 2018 and July 30, 2019, he conspired and participated in the distribution of 500 grams or more of pure methamphetamine in and around the Tri-State area.  Clark was also in possession a firearm to protect himself, his drug business, and to further his participation in the methamphetamine conspiracy.   

Sometime in January or early February of 2019, defendant began getting methamphetamine from Omaha for resale in and around Sioux City.  Defendant got approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine each week for 5 months, until his source of supply was arrested by law enforcement.  After that, he found a new source and received about 3 more pounds of methamphetamine to sell.  Defendant had over a half-pound of methamphetamine on his motorcycle when he was arrested in July of 2019.   

Clark was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Clark was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment (60 months’ for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 60 months’ for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime).  He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Clark 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 Jack Lammers 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; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Also involved in this investigation were the Sergeant Bluff Police Department and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. 

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

The case file number is 19-4063.

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