Shelton Lapointe, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Iowa 2026

A brazen attempt to evade law enforcement ended in disaster for Shelton Lapointe, a 36-year-old Sioux City man, who was convicted of methamphetamine trafficking charges on April 29, 2026, in federal court.

Lapointe was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting another to do so.

The evidence presented during a 2-day trial showed that Lapointe was involved in a multi-pound methamphetamine trafficking operation that lasted several months from 2022 to July 2024.

On July 17, 2024, law enforcement agents were conducting surveillance at the WinnaVegas Casino when they observed a vehicle, driven by Lapointe, speeding away from the casino at over 100 mph. When agents attempted to stop the vehicle, Lapointe instructed his co-conspirator to throw out packages of methamphetamine, which were later seized by law enforcement.

Lapointe has a prior conviction record, having been convicted twice previously in Woodbury County Iowa District Court for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in 2018 and again in 2022.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and Patrick T. Greenwood, and was investigated by the DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa.

Lapointe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a $20,000,000 fine and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. He was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The case file number is 24-4078. For more information, visit the court's website at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

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Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/jury-finds-sioux-city-man-guilty-meth-charges-0