A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on October 21, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
On April 29, 2022, Luis Sanchez, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. In 2014, Sanchez was previously convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa for distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from January 2021 through September 2021, Sanchez and others distributed more than 8 pounds of methamphetamine. Evidence further showed that on three occasions in 2021, Sanchez distributed more than 150 grams methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sanchez was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of eight years of supervised release following imprisonment. Sanchez remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending transportation to a federal prison.
The case was 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.
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