James Dean Sterner, Conspiracy to Distribute Meth, Iowa 2023

California Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Meth in Iowa

A California man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in and around Sioux City, Iowa. James Dean Sterner, 65, of Tustin, California, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, which contained 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Sterner admitted to conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around Sioux City from August 2019 to October 2019. During this time, Sterner received the meth via mail from California and distributed it in the area.

In October 2019, law enforcement found a package mailed to a resident in Sioux City from Sterner containing approximately 319 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Sterner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Sterner is currently being held in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Mikala Purdy-Steenholdt. The investigation was conducted by the Tri-State Drug Task Force, which consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Iowa National Guard, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Marshals Service, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.

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