Des Moines Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearm Offenses

DES MOINES, Iowa—On February 25, 2019, Arthur Tyrone Lee, Jr., age 38, of Des Moines, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 360 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Lee was ordered to serve ten years of supervised release to follow his prison term.

On October 16, 2018, Lee was found guilty of the charges after a two-day jury trial. The evidence at trial proved Lee was in possession of 73.43 grams of pure methamphetamine, 4.11 grams of a methamphetamine mixture (consisting of 821 tablets), and a loaded Kimbur Ultra Carry II .45 caliber handgun during the execution of a search warrant at his Des Moines residence. Evidence also showed Lee regularly purchased methamphetamine for distribution, including at least an additional 5,896.8 grams of methamphetamine mixture. At the time of these offenses, Lee had two prior controlled substance felony convictions.

This investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department and Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.