Jeremiah Shaw Sentenced

A devastating attempt to manufacture methamphetamine has landed 42-year-old Jeremiah Shaw of Dubuque, Iowa, in federal prison for six and one-half years.

The sentence was handed down after Shaw pleaded guilty on October 11, 2013, to one count of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine near a playground. The guilty plea came after a harrowing incident on April 28, 2013, when Shaw attempted to cook methamphetamine at his apartment, causing a fire to ignite.

Information disclosed during the plea and sentencing hearings revealed that two other people were present in the apartment when the fire occurred. The apartment was located within 1,000 feet of three separate playgrounds, putting numerous lives at risk.

Shaw was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade in Cedar Rapids to 78 months’ imprisonment. In addition to the prison term, Shaw was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 and serve a 6-year term of supervised release after his imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with the case file number being CR 13-1014.

Shaw is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison to begin serving his sentence. The sentence serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of methamphetamine manufacturing and the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat this threat.

The incident highlights the risks associated with methamphetamine production, including the potential for fires, explosions, and exposure to toxic chemicals. It also underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community to prevent and investigate such crimes.