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Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Manufacturing
A Dubuque man, Rory Lee Zirkelbach, 43, has pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine which caused a house fire in Iowa. The incident occurred on May 31, 2012, at his residence on Jackson Street in Dubuque.
Zirkelbach attempted to make methamphetamine on the second floor of his house, but the lab caught fire. A passing bus driver stopped his bus in front of the house and alerted a neighbor, who reentered the burning house to rescue her sleeping minor child. Officials later found the remnants of the methamphetamine lab, which caused the fire.
The residence was within 1,000 feet of Fulton Elementary School and Comiskey Park, both protected locations. Zirkelbach had a prior felony drug conviction, dating back to 1998, for possession with intent to deliver amphetamine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
Zirkelbach pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a protected location. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Zirkelbach remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of one year imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 60 years’ imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and at least six years and not more than life on supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.
Zirkelbach’s case highlights the dangers of methamphetamine manufacturing and the importance of protecting communities from such activities. The outcome of the case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in illicit drug manufacturing.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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