Melroy Johnson, Sr., Meth Conspiracy, Iowa 2021

Melroy Johnson, Sr.

SIoux City, Iowa – In a shocking turn of events, a Sioux City man was found guilty of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Melroy Johnson, Sr., 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to evidence presented in court, Johnson, Sr. had two co-conspirators travel to California to obtain pounds of methamphetamine from a source and return with it to Sioux City, Iowa for further distribution. The packages contained from 2-5 pounds of methamphetamine as well as cocaine and marijuana.

The verdict was returned on July 9, 2021, after a four-day jury trial in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa. Johnson, Sr. was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Johnson, Sr. faces a sentencing enhancement based on his prior federal felony drug trafficking conviction in 2002. On his conspiracy conviction, Johnson, Sr. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the possession conviction, Johnson, Sr. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, and at least 8 years of supervised release.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa. The Tri-State Drug 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.

Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 19-4065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

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