A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 3, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
Tarina Hinojosa, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Hinojosa admitted that from January 2021 through September 2021, she and others distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence further showed that in February 2021, Hinojosa was arrested for possession of an eight-ball of methamphetamine in Sioux City. Also, in July 2021, in a traffic stop in Sioux City, officers seized 146 grams of methamphetamine in two separate baggies and $2,200 from Hinojosa. Later, in September 2021, in another traffic stop in Sioux City, officers seized approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine in multiple baggies from Hinojosa. Hinojosa admitted she planned to distribute some or all of these amounts of methamphetamine to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hinojosa remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hinojosa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4082. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Giving Back to the Community through a variety of venues & initiatives.
Filing Civil Rights Complaint.