A federal prison sentence slammed down on Andrew Tucker-Moreno, 30, of Bronson, Iowa, who was sentenced on December 6, 2016, to twelve years behind bars for his role in a sprawling methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
Tucker-Moreno pleaded guilty on August 24, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, admitting in court that from approximately 2015 through March 2016, he and associates moved more than 500 grams of actual (pure) meth across northwest Iowa and beyond. The operation wasn’t small-time—it was a coordinated drug network with deep roots in the region’s underground economy.
During a targeted raid in March 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tucker-Moreno’s residence in Moville, Iowa, turning up 679 grams of pure methamphetamine, a .25 caliber pistol, two digital scales, and other clear indicators of drug trafficking. The haul confirmed the scale and danger of the operation, cementing the case against him.
U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand handed down the 144-month sentence in Sioux City, Iowa, along with a mandatory $100 special assessment. Tucker-Moreno will also face a five-year term of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system—meaning he will serve every mandated day.
The investigation was led by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, a multi-agency coalition that includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sioux City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, South Sioux City Police, Nebraska State Patrol, Iowa National Guard, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn S. Wehde. Tucker-Moreno remains in U.S. Marshals custody awaiting transfer to federal prison. Case file 16-4047 is available via the Northern District of Iowa’s public docket at ecf.iand.uscourts.gov. Follow updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office at @USAO_NDIA.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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