Chad Root, Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine, IA, 2023

Three members of a ruthless meth manufacturing operation in northwest Iowa have been sentenced to federal prison terms totaling 26 years. Chad Root, 42, from Waukon, and the Manzo brothers, Enrique, 37, and Jessica, 31, from Fredericksburg, were found guilty of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine following a series of investigations by local law enforcement agencies.

Root, who had multiple prior felony convictions, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2013, admitting his role in the ring’s activities between April 2012 and April 2013. He faced a sentence of 141 months for conspiracy to manufacture meth and possession of firearms as a felon.

The Manzo brothers, who each admitted to obtaining pseudoephedrine for methamphetamine production, were sentenced on October 4, 2013. Enrique received 100 months’ imprisonment for his involvement, while Jessica was handed an 81-month sentence.

The sentencing took place in Cedar Rapids before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Both brothers will serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms, with Root required to serve an eight-year term of supervised release. Parole is not available in the federal system.

Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by a coalition of agencies including the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, and local police departments. Court file information can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case files are numbered 13-CR-1007 for Chad Root and 13-CR-2019 for Enrique and Jessica Manzo.