Marty Brian Robbins, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Iowa 2018

Two Iowa residents have been convicted of transporting massive quantities of ice methamphetamine into the state. Marty Brian Robbins, 55, of Marion, Iowa, and Valerie Lee Kupka, 42, of Clutier, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

According to the plea agreement, Robbins obtained large shipments of ice methamphetamine from sources in the Southwest United States, starting in April 2017. He then transported the methamphetamine to Iowa in a trailer. Kupka assisted Robbins in selling the methamphetamine in Iowa.

On April 20, 2018, police investigators conducted surveillance on Robbins while he was at a storage facility in Cedar Rapids. Investigators saw Robbins and others unload boxes of suspected methamphetamine from Robbins’ trailer. After executing several search warrants on Robbins’ truck, trailer, and other cars, police investigators recovered approximately 9 pounds of ice methamphetamine.

Police also recovered $57,122 in cash proceeds of methamphetamine sales during their investigation into Robbins and Kupka. The investigation was conducted by the Johnson County Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Marion Police Department.

Robbins and Kupka were arrested on federal warrants on May 26, 2018, while entering Nogales, Arizona, from Mexico at the Nogales-Grand Avenue Port of Entry. Robbins remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

Robbins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman. The case file number is 18-CR-62-LRR, and court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

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