Juan Cardona-Tinajero, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Iowa 2024

Grimy Times has learned that a Sioux City man has pleaded guilty to methamphetamine trafficking and immigration offenses in federal court.

Juan Cardona-Tinajero, 34, a resident of Guadalajara, Mexico, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and being an illegal alien in the United States.

According to court documents, Cardona-Tinajero and others conspired to distribute at least 18 pounds of methamphetamine from January 2023 to September 22, 2023. He also admitted to receiving approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine by mail, which he intended to further distribute.

Cardona-Tinajero was receiving packages through the U.S. postal service from California, which contained methamphetamine that he distributed in the Sioux City area.

Sentencing for Cardona-Tinajero will be set after a presentence report is prepared. He remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

On the drug convictions, Cardona-Tinajero faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

On the immigration conviction, he faces a possible maximum sentence of not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn S. Wehde and Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa.

The task force 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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