A 31-year-old Sioux City, Iowa, man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms in federal court.
Diego Ayala, 31, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of prohibited person in possession of firearms.
Between September 2020 and January 7, 2021, Ayala and others conspired to distribute at least 1500 grams of methamphetamine, with Ayala receiving 10-12 pounds of the substance for further distribution in the Sioux City area.
Law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of one pound of methamphetamine from Ayala on January 7, 2021. Following this, a search warrant was executed at Ayala’s residence, where authorities seized four more pounds of methamphetamine, an unloaded 9mm handgun, and a loaded AR-15 rifle.
Ayala also admitted to planning to distribute the methamphetamine and being an unlawful user of methamphetamine at the time of possession of firearms.
At sentencing, Ayala faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a $10,000,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force, a collaborative effort of law enforcement personnel from various agencies.
Ayala remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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