Iowa Man Faces Decades in Prison for Methamphetamine Possession

NATHAN RUSSELL CATES, 41, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, has been found guilty of possessing over 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to the plea deal, CATES appeared in a federal court in Cheyenne before Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on June 20, 2022, and pleaded guilty to the charges. His sentencing has been scheduled for May 16, 2022.

CATES faces a maximum sentence of 10 years to life in prison, five years to life of supervised release, fines of up to $10 million, and a $100 special assessment. The exact sentence will be determined by the judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation into CATES’s activities was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wyoming Highway Patrol, and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Margaret M. Vierbuchen is handling the prosecution of the case.

CASE NO. 21-cr-00101-NDF is the official designation for this case. The guilty plea marks a significant blow to those involved in the illicit methamphetamine trade in the region.

As the Grimy Times continues to investigate this story, we urge anyone with information regarding CATES’s activities to come forward and assist law enforcement in their efforts to combat the growing methamphetamine crisis in our nation.

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