South Sioux City Man Sentenced for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Firearms

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Pedro Valdovinos, age 23, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 29, 2021, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to Possessing with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possessing Firearms in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Senior United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Valdovinos to 138 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment, Valdovinos will be required to serve a 5-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system. Valdovinos also lost any right or claim to the U.S. currency seized during the investigation.

In June of 2019, a cooperating witness bought methamphetamine from Valdovinos inside of his South Sioux City residence with the total being more than 50 grams.  

On August 5, 2019, officers executed a Federal search warrant on Valdovinos’s residence. During the initial entry, Valdovinos and co-defendant Leagsaidh Hargreaves were located inside the residence in a basement bedroom closet with a handgun by their feet. A search of the residence revealed approximately 140 grams of methamphetamine, over $35,000 in U.S. currency, and three additional handguns found next to the methamphetamine.

Valdovinos and Hargreaves were arrested and interviewed. Valdovinos took full responsibility for the methamphetamine and the firearms that were located inside of the residence. Hargreaves initially denied any knowledge or involvement but has since pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement officers. Hargreaves is scheduled for sentencing on May 17, 2021.     

This case was investigated by officers of the DEA Sioux City Resident Office.