Burlington Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Adam Brent Branton, age 39, of Burlington, to 262 months in prison for Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and 120 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. The sentences will run concurrently. Following his prison term, Branton was ordered to serve five years of supervised release, as well as pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

The investigation of Branton began in February 2020 when law enforcement identified Branton as a distributor of “ice” methamphetamine in the Burlington area. In February 2020, officers utilized a confidential source to purchase approximately half a pound of ice methamphetamine from the defendant. On May 21, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Branton’s home. During the search, officers found a loaded New England Firearms .22 caliber revolver in addition to a large quantity of cash and methamphetamine. Branton was later interviewed and admitted to distributing methamphetamine and possessing the gun found in his home, despite being a convicted felon. He further admitted to distributing five to six pounds of ice methamphetamine over the course of the last six months leading up to his arrest.

This matter was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.