Robert Skarin, Methamphetamine Distribution, Sioux City IA, 2013

In a shocking display of disregard for the law, Robert Skarin, 54, and William Meisner, 54, both from Sioux City, Iowa, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine conspiracy.

The two men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on July 23, 2013, and August 26, 2013, respectively. As part of their guilty pleas, each admitted to distributing more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area from the beginning of 2013 through April 2013.

According to court documents, Skarin and Meisner would often travel together to Omaha, Nebraska, to obtain methamphetamine for later distribution in Sioux City. On April 3, 2013, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Skarin with Meisner as passenger. A search of the vehicle yielded a brown paper bag rolled up and hidden inside Skarin’s right sock, containing over 80 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.

Skarin and Meisner intended to distribute some or all of this methamphetamine. The two men were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Skarin was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment, while Meisner was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. Both men must also serve a five year term of supervised release after the prison term and were imposed a special assessment of $100.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa. The task force consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with the case file number being 13-4035. Skarin and Meisner are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system, ensuring that these two men will serve their sentences in full.

The sentencing of Skarin and Meisner serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which law enforcement and the courts take drug trafficking offenses. The methamphetamine conspiracy that these two men were involved in had the potential to cause significant harm to the community, and their sentences reflect the need to protect the public from such threats.