Western Iowa Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced three sentences for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine imposed by Chief District Court Judge John Jarvey on October 8, 2019. Joseph A. Brown, a 35 year-old Omaha, Nebraska, resident, was sentenced to ten years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Christopher M. Rouse, a 31 year-old Omaha, Nebraska, resident was sentenced to twenty years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Bernave Navarrete, a 28 year-old resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa was sentenced to twenty years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

The convictions were the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force into methamphetamine trafficking in Western Iowa. The investigation revealed that methamphetamine was being brought into the Omaha, Nebraska, area from Mexico, and then transported to various locations in Nebraska and Western Iowa for distribution.

As part of this investigation, the following individuals were already sentenced to prison: Jackie Thielen, ten years; Brandy Kumpula, eight years; Chase Richard, fifteen years; Jessica Snavely, ten years; and William LaBenz, five years. The sentencing hearings for Omar Martinez, Laura Rausch-Anderson, Colby Dunn and Manda May Rowell are still pending.

This matter was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harlan, Iowa Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.