Rodeo Clown Rory Meeks Convicted of Marijuana Conspiracy

It’s a twist of fate that could be straight out of a Wild West drama: Rory Meeks, the 55-year-old rodeo clown and bullfighter, found himself at the center of a federal court trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On March 8, 2013, after a three-day trial, Meeks was convicted by a jury on one count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, leaving behind his colorful career as a clown for the grim reality of prison.

The evidence against Meeks painted a picture of a well-orchestrated operation spanning over six years. It revealed that from 2004 through 2011, Meeks conspired with others to grow marijuana in rural Jones County. Each spring, he planted cannabis along corn and soybean fields in secluded spots throughout the county, tending to the plants throughout the summer. The harvest came in the fall, processed at a Jones County house, and then sold over the winter months. It was a lucrative operation, with the jury concluding that Meeks was involved in growing over 1000 marijuana plants.

Meeks’ previous brush with the law had occurred in April 2011 when he was acquitted of manufacturing marijuana charges. But this time, it seemed the cards were stacked against him. Sentencing is set to take place before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade after a presentence report is prepared. The defendant’s fate awaits.

Upon returning the verdict, Meeks was taken into custody by the United States Marshal. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, with the possibility of life behind bars. A fine of $20,000,000, a $100 special assessment, and at least 10 years of supervised release follow any prison term.

The prosecution of this case was a team effort by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and the Monticello Police Department. Court file information can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with case file number CR 12-91-LRR.

As the curtain falls on this chapter of Meeks’ life, it serves as a stark reminder that beneath the makeup and costume of the rodeo clown lies the dark underbelly of organized crime and drug trafficking.

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