On February 8, 2022, Melroy Johnson Sr., 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison.
Johnson Sr. was found guilty by a jury on July 9, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at trial and sentencing, showed that Johnson Sr., in 2017 and 2018, had two co-conspirators travel to California, obtain large quantities of methamphetamine, and deliver the meth to Johnson Sr. in Sioux City for further distribution. The co-conspirators delivered between one and five pounds of methamphetamine to Johnson Sr. Evidence at trial also showed that in 2018 and 2019, Johnson Sr. arranged for meth to be mailed from California to various coconspirators in Sioux City. The packages contained from 2-5 pounds of methamphetamine as well as cocaine and marijuana, and were primarily provided to Johnson Sr. for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson, Sr. was sentenced to 264 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Johnson, Sr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the 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 19-4065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.