Former North Liberty Man Sentenced For Federal Methamphetamine Conspiracy

DAVENPORT, IA – On September 11, 2014, Donald Lee Engstrom, age 41, formerly of North Liberty, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Jarvey to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Engstrom was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following the imprisonment, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

Beginning in approximately July 2013 and continuing until about November 14, 2013, Engstrom conspired with other persons to distribute ice methamphetamine in the Muscatine, Iowa, and North Liberty, Iowa areas. On multiple occasions, Engstrom obtained ice methamphetamine in Arizona, ranging in weight from ½ to multiple pounds, and drove it to Iowa where he sold the methamphetamine to various customers. On November 14, 2013, law enforcement intercepted a vehicle occupied by Engstrom as it arrived at the home of co-defendant Terry Joe Burns near North Liberty. The vehicle contained 333 grams of highly pure ice methamphetamine and $9,255 in U.S. currency. Engstrom was traveling to meet Burns because he had arranged a meeting with Burns and an acquaintance of Burns for the purpose of selling that person ½ pound of ice methamphetamine.

Co-defendant Burns has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the police departments from North Liberty and Iowa City, Iowa. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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