A California man was sentenced to 235 months in prison for his role in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation.
Michael Anthony Santistevan, 31, was stopped by a Pottawattamie County Deputy on Interstate 80 on May 21, 2018, for speeding. The deputy issued a traffic citation and requested permission to search the vehicle, which was a rental car that was overdue and not rented by Santistevan.
The search revealed 15 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a tire. A certified narcotics canine was used to inspect the vehicle, which alerted to the presence of narcotics.
Santistevan was subsequently charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on April 24, 2019, by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner.
The case was investigated by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and the Council Bluffs Police Department, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuting the case.
Santistevan’s supervised release will last for five years after he serves his 235-month sentence. The investigation and prosecution of this case are a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat methamphetamine trafficking in the region.
Defendant: Michael Anthony Santistevan
Criminal Charges: Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
City and State: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Date: May 21, 2018 (arrest date), April 24, 2019 (sentencing date)
Sentence: 235 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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