Robert Ackerman, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Iowa 2013

Three men and one woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced to federal prison in Sioux City, Iowa.

The defendants, Robert Ackerman, 36, Shawn Owen, 37, Deidre Schlachter, 45, and Donald Smith, 42, from Huntington Beach, California, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

According to court documents, the defendants were involved in a methamphetamine conspiracy from January 2009 to December 2013, distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area.

The defendants made arrangements to ship methamphetamine from California to Iowa and receive cash in exchange. On April 25, 2013, law enforcement seized a FedEx overnight envelope containing 10.44 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.

The defendants were sentenced as follows: Robert Ackerman to 35 months' imprisonment, Shawn Owen to 48 months' imprisonment, Deidre Schlachter to 33 months' imprisonment, and Donald Smith to 120 months' imprisonment. Each defendant must pay a special assessment of $100 and serve a five-year term of supervised release after their prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster City Police Department, Webster County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Hardin County Sheriff's Office, and Iowa Falls Police Department.

The case file number is 13-3055, and court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov.

Contact: Steve Young for more information.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/four-members-meth-conspiracy-sentenced-federal-prison