SIOUX CITY, IA – Matthew Ryan McCauley, 33, of Whittemore, Iowa, is headed to federal prison for a decade after admitting to a large-scale methamphetamine operation. McCauley received the 120-month sentence on February 5, 2013, from United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett, solidifying a case built on two years of illicit activity.
The bust stems from a September 17, 2012, guilty plea to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. Federal investigators proved McCauley was deeply involved in the trade, handling at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine and over 100 grams of pseudoephedrine between December 2010 and May 2012. This wasn’t a first-time offense; McCauley has a history with the law, previously convicted in Iowa of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) in October 2008 and possession of a precursor with intent to manufacture methamphetamine back in April 2003.
The final nail in the coffin came on May 2, 2012, when McCauley attempted to trade .25 grams of methamphetamine for 20 pseudoephedrine pills with an undercover law enforcement officer. The transaction, a carefully orchestrated controlled buy, proved McCauley’s intent to continue manufacturing the deadly drug. The pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth production, was destined for another batch of illicit product.
Beyond the prison sentence, McCauley was slapped with a $100 special assessment and will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release. Grimy Times reminds readers that there is no parole in the federal system – McCauley will serve his full ten-year term. He is currently in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service, awaiting transport to a designated federal facility.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde spearheaded the prosecution, bringing the case to a decisive close. Court file information, including case number 12-3023, can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
This case serves as a stark reminder that those who profit from the misery of others will face the full weight of federal law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on other instances of drug-related crime impacting communities across the nation.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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