Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

A Council Bluffs man has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution ring that spanned the Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska metro areas.

Alejandro Almaraz, 24, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced May 21, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs to 84 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 grams or more of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencings, Almaraz and three co-defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs and Omaha areas. This case involved the seizure of approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, which was transported from Juarez, Mexico to the United States through El Paso, Texas.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Almaraz will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Almaraz’s three co-defendants were sentenced earlier this year. Arnulfo Ibarra-Nunez, 57, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Stacey Hernandez, 19, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Manuel Gamez-Acosta, 25, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Council Bluffs Police Department.

The methamphetamine distribution ring was a major concern for law enforcement in the region, and the sentencing of Almaraz and his co-defendants is a significant blow to the organization.

As the Grimy Times continues to investigate the inner workings of this organization, one thing is clear: the war on methamphetamine is far from over.