Two Marshalltown Brothers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two Marshalltown brothers were sentenced on October 3, 2025, to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin.

According to public court documents, Marcel Edmund Oden, 53, and his co-defendant brother, Jerry Juan Oden, 56, distributed more than 100 grams of heroin in the Marshalltown community for at least three years.

Marcel Oden had prior state convictions for assault-related conduct. At the time of the offense, Jerry Oden was on state parole for 2018 convictions for delivery of heroin and possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, and 2014 convictions for possession of heroin with intent to deliver and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Marcel Oden was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, and a $20,000 fine. Jerry Oden was sentenced to a 12 year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathon Holscher and investigated by the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force and Marshalltown Police Department.