A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while also illegally possessing firearms was sentenced on April 14, 2022, to 42 months in federal prison.
William Hageman, 56, from rural Cherokee County, Iowa, pled guilty on December 17, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. In 1994, Hageman was previously convicted of OWI – 3rd Offense, in the Iowa District Court for Plymouth County, in 1994. This conviction prohibited Hageman from possessing guns.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from August 2018 through April 18, 2019, Hageman and others conspired to distribute more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine in Cherokee County, Iowa, and the surrounding area, often obtaining pounds of methamphetamine from Omaha, Nebraska sources. On four separate occasions, in March and April 2019, Hageman distributed more than a pound of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with and under the supervision of law enforcement. In April 2019, law enforcement executed a search of Hageman’s rural Cherokee County residence and seized almost 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the property, as well as six guns, including four rifles. At the time of the search, a co-conspirator was found attempting to flush methamphetamine down a toilet before officers could seize it. Three of the guns were possessed by Hageman while three others were possessed by a co-conspirator.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hageman was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of three years supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Hageman remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn 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 21-4048. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.