Council Bluffs, Iowa – In a gritty blow to the local drug trade, Diana Morales and Donavan Edward Belt have been handed down tough federal prison sentences for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring. Morales, 30, was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 180 months behind bars after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The sentence for Belt, 25, came earlier, on December 11, 2023, when he received 120 months in federal prison for the same offense. The two were charged in a three-count indictment, with both pleading guilty to at least one count.
According to court documents, Morales was the supplier of methamphetamine to Belt, who distributed the drug in the Council Bluffs area. The crackdown on their operation began in February 2023 when law enforcement conducted a controlled buy at the residence of Morales and Belt, resulting in the seizure of 112.97 grams of actual methamphetamine.
A subsequent search warrant led to the discovery of additional methamphetamine, further solidifying the evidence against the defendants. Following these developments, both Belt and Morales faced federal charges, with Belt also being sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release after his prison term ends.
Morales will serve a three-year term of supervised release after her prison sentence is completed. It’s worth noting that parole does not exist in the federal system, ensuring both defendants will remain under close watch for years to come.
The investigation was led by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa, with support from the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Council Bluffs Police Department.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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