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Press Release

Three Council Bluffs Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – On March 3, 2021, Bruce Lee Gamble, age 42, and Alberto Monroe Rocha, age 43, both of Council Bluffs, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger announced Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. Gamble was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Gamble pleaded guilty to the offense on September 21, 2020.

Rocha was sentenced to 18 months in prison for prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Rocha pleaded guilty to the offense on August 21, 2020.

Co-conspirator Daniel Walker Gabehart, age 49, also of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by Judge Ebinger on December 16, 2020. Gabehart was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and another 60 months, to run consecutively, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Gabehart was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Gabehart pleaded guilty to the offense on August 4, 2020.

Detectives with the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force conducted several controlled methamphetamine purchases with Gabehart, which led to a search warrant of his residence. Gabehart, Gamble, and Rocha were located at the Council Bluffs apartment along with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and several firearms.

This investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Contact

Rachel J. Scherle
515-473-9300
USAIAS-PAO@usdoj.gov

Updated March 9, 2021

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses