DAVENPORT, Iowa – Justice came down hard in federal court this week, as two Keokuk men – a father and son – were sentenced to decades behind bars for flooding eastern Iowa with methamphetamine. Ronald Dickey Mason, 75, and Ronald Kieth Mason, 43, will spend a combined 42 years in federal prison for their roles in a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
According to court documents, the pair conspired to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine throughout several Iowa cities, including Keokuk, Burlington, Riverside, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids, between April and July 2024. The operation wasn’t just about quantity; it was brazen. In July 2024, law enforcement conducting surveillance discovered a staggering 28 pounds of methamphetamine stashed in the trunk of Ronald Dickey Mason’s vehicle. A pistol was also recovered from the center console – a clear indication of the violent potential of their enterprise.
The net tightened quickly. Ronald Kieth Mason entered a guilty plea in February 2025, admitting to the charges against him. His father, Ronald Dickey Mason, also plead guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. However, the elder Mason’s legal troubles didn’t end there. A jury subsequently convicted him in March 2025 on the additional charge of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime – a conviction that significantly increased his potential sentence.
On July 22, 2025, Ronald Dickey Mason received the harshest penalty: 22 years in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Ronald Kieth Mason wasn’t far behind, sentenced on June 25, 2025, to 20 years in federal prison, also with a five-year supervised release period. For those unfamiliar with the federal system, there’s no chance for parole – these men will serve every day of their sentences.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations that poison our communities,” stated United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. “The significant sentences handed down today send a clear message: those who seek to profit from the misery of others will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Lee County Narcotics Task Force, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keokuk Police Department, underscores the importance of multi-agency cooperation in tackling complex criminal enterprises. While these two men are off the streets, the fight against methamphetamine distribution in Iowa – and across the nation – continues. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and bring you the unvarnished truth about crime in America.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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