Donald Sheldon, Methamphetamine Manufacture, Iowa 2014

A Dubuque man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine lab explosion that started a fire near a Dubuque school.

Donald Sheldon, 47, of Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced on July 29, 2014, to 87 months in federal prison for attempt and aiding and abetting the manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.

Court documents reflect that Sheldon allowed Joshuah Tiesman to use his apartment to manufacture methamphetamine. The methamphetamine lab exploded, starting a fire in the apartment building that caused damage to Sheldon’s apartment building and an adjoining building, including a restaurant located in that adjoining building.

Tiesman previously was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the methamphetamine cook and fire.

Sheldon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $94,682 in restitution to the victims of the fire.

He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Sheldon 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 Dan Chatham and investigated by Dubuque, Iowa, Drug Task Force.

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