Cory Cole Sentenced

A meth lab fire in Dubuque, Iowa, has led to a lengthy prison sentence for a local man. Cory Cole, 47, from Dubuque, Iowa, received a 19 ½ year prison term after an October 9, 2013, guilty plea to the attempted manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.

The incident occurred on May 30, 2013, when Cole attempted to cook methamphetamine at a Dubuque residence, causing a fire to erupt in the house. Two other individuals, neither of whom were involved in the methamphetamine activity, were present inside the residence at the time of the fire.

The residence was located within 1,000 feet of Fulton Elementary School, which played a significant role in the severity of Cole’s sentence. United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids, imposing 234 months’ imprisonment and a $100 special assessment.

Cole will also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. As there is no parole in the federal system, Cole will be required to serve the entirety of his sentence. He is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot, with assistance from the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Dubuque Fire Department. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with the case file number listed as 13-CR-1015.

The sentencing of Cory Cole serves as a reminder of the dangers and consequences of methamphetamine production. The close proximity of the meth lab to a school highlights the risks posed to the community, and the severity of Cole’s sentence reflects the seriousness with which law enforcement and the courts view such offenses.