Fort Dodge Meth Dealer Preston Faces Life Behind Bars

SIOUX CITY, IA – Jermiah Preston, 41, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is staring down a potential life sentence after admitting to distributing methamphetamine. Preston entered a guilty plea on May 22, 2024, in federal court, cementing his status as a repeat offender with a penchant for hard drugs and disregard for the law.

This isn’t Preston’s first dance with the federal justice system. Back in March 2017, he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing controlled substances in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Clearly, a previous conviction wasn’t enough to deter him from returning to the criminal life.

The latest case unfolded on January 23, 2023, when Preston engaged in a meth transaction with a confidential informant. Law enforcement didn’t have to look far for evidence. Following the deal, a traffic stop revealed Preston actively attempting to ditch the evidence – tossing two bags of methamphetamine out of his truck window. The “buy money” used in the transaction was found on his person, and forensic analysis confirmed Preston’s DNA was present on the discarded bags, tying him directly to the crime.

Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde is prosecuting the case, built on a solid investigation conducted by a multi-agency task force including the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol. These agencies worked together to build an airtight case against Preston, leaving him little room to maneuver.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will determine Preston’s fate after a presentence report is completed. Preston will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, but could receive a life sentence, a hefty $8,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-3029. For updates, follow the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.