SIOUX CITY, IA – Edwin Diaz, 34, of Odebolt, Iowa, will spend the next 15+ years in federal prison after being sentenced June 7, 2024, for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence, handed down by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand, reflects the gravity of Diaz’s crimes and his prior criminal history.
Diaz was convicted on February 9, 2024, of two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Court records reveal Diaz’s criminal past includes convictions for felony theft, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance – offenses that legally barred him from owning a firearm. This wasn’t just a slip-up; it was a calculated disregard for the law.
The case unfolded on the night of December 31, 2022, when an Ida County Sheriff’s Deputy discovered Diaz and an associate in a suspiciously parked vehicle. A search revealed 45 grams of methamphetamine and 35 grams of marijuana. But Diaz didn’t stop there. Days later, on January 4, 2023, he and his girlfriend strong-armed the individual from the December 31st traffic stop, forcing them to sign a false statement claiming ownership of the seized methamphetamine. This blatant attempt at obstruction of justice only deepened his legal trouble.
A subsequent search of Diaz’s residence unearthed evidence of this coercion, including handcuffs and the fabricated letter. Agents also seized an additional ½ ounce of methamphetamine, more marijuana, various pills, drug distribution paraphernalia, a Ruger .22 rifle with a loaded magazine, and 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The sheer volume of contraband paints a clear picture of Diaz’s involvement in a significant drug operation.
Diaz received a sentence of 185 months and 27 days imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. Crucially, there is no parole in the federal system, meaning Diaz will serve nearly his entire sentence. He is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service awaiting transport to a designated federal prison. This isn’t a story of rehabilitation; it’s a consequence for flooding Iowa communities with poison and endangering public safety.
The investigation and prosecution were a collaborative effort led by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde, with significant contributions from the Ida County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 23-4012. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter: @USAO_NDIA.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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