Dubuque Iowa Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking

A 20-person methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy has been busted in Eastern Iowa. Michael Vincent Woodbury Bent, 37, of Dubuque, Iowa, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to a federal indictment, the conspiracy involved the distribution of methamphetamine in Dubuque and other parts of Iowa, as well as money laundering activities. If convicted, Bent could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Bent appeared in federal court in Cedar Rapids on June 3, 2016, and was held without bond. His next appearance for trial is set for July 18, 2016.

The indictment also charges Dennis Sharkey II, 50, Adam Fullbright, 37, Chris Nauman, 30, John Husemann, 51, all of Dubuque, Iowa, with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Fullbright and Bent have also been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Heather Harris, 37, Zach Miller, 27, and Jacob Burton, 35, all of Waterloo, Iowa, and Edward Behrens, 50, of Benton, Wisconsin, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Chad Ellis Weyland, 38, Deis Ray, 40, Jay Seehase, 37, and Kevin Hemmer,41, all of Waterloo, Iowa, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Weyland has been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Aldo Omar Lopez Martinez, 22, Adan Sanchez-Chavez, a/k/a Osbaldo Nieto Arreola, a/k/a Osbaldo Martinez Arreola, 25, Roque Rodriguez Arellano, 32, Susana Martinez Arreola, 29, and Michael Corwin, 30, all of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Alejandro Hernandez, 38, and Alfredo Morales, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Lopez Martinez, Sanchez-Chavez, and Martinez Arreola have been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the indictment, the conspiracy began as early as the summer of 2013 and continued until May 2016. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, and other agencies as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams.

Mandatory minimum sentence: 10 years’ imprisonment, possible maximum sentence: life imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

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