Brisa Paniagua-Trejo, Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, Iowa 2020

A woman was caught with a large quantity of methamphetamine in Iowa, leading to a guilty plea in federal court.

Brisa Paniagua-Trejo, 40, of Casa Grande, Arizona, pleaded guilty on December 8, 2020, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Sioux City Division.

On February 5, 2020, a Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Paniagua-Trejo was driving. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 30 grams of cocaine, a used marijuana pipe, drug paraphernalia, several phones, two scales, and four rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

Paniagua-Trejo has a history of involvement in drug crimes, having previously been convicted of possession with intent to manufacture/deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County and drug possession in the Minnesota District Court for Faribault County.

She 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 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Paniagua-Trejo remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will continue to be held pending sentencing. Sentencing will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force, which 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.

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