Jose Miguel Soto-Guzman, Fentanyl Dealing, Iowa 2022

Dubuque Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Fentanyl Dealing

A 47-year-old Dubuque man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for dealing fentanyl in the city, according to the latest from the Grimy Times.

Jose Miguel Soto-Guzman, who has a prior conviction for a felony drug offense, pleaded guilty to distributing a controlled substance near a protected location. As part of the plea, Soto-Guzman also admitted to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Between March and June 2022, Soto-Guzman and his co-defendant, Fallon Christina Murphy, sold fentanyl to heroin users in the Dubuque area. They sourced the fentanyl from La Crosse, Wisconsin, and sold it in Dubuque. During one of these trips, Soto-Guzman's three-year-old child was present.

Investigators conducted five controlled purchases from Soto-Guzman and Murphy, which contained fentanyl mixed with heroin and methamphetamine. In one instance, Soto-Guzman told an undercover agent that two people had overdosed the previous day.

Soto-Guzman was sentenced by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams to 216 months in prison. He will also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after his prison term. Murphy was previously sentenced to 28 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. The investigation was led by the Dubuque Drug Task Force as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program focuses on fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.

Dubuque Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Fentanyl Dealing

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/dubuque-fentanyl-dealer-who-referenced-overdoses-during-drug-sales-sentenced-18-years