Had Previous Convictions for Theft and Assault
A Dubuque woman who possessed approximately 30 grams of ice methamphetamine and intended to distribute it to others was sentenced April 11, 2018, to 31 months in federal prison.
Ashley Ann Laufenberg, age 28, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 6, 2017, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In a plea agreement, Laufenberg admitted she possessed about 2 grams of ice methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it while driving a car in Dubuque. At the time, Laufenberg had a warrant for her arrest and law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop on her car. She unsuccessfully attempted to flee from officers by driving away during the traffic stop. After she was caught, officers found more than $400, a bullet, and a cell phone on her person. Officers at the jail also found 2 grams of methamphetamine on her person. Laufenberg admitted to possessing and selling about 30 grams of ice methamphetamine.
Information at the sentencing hearing showed that Laufenberg’s criminal conduct escalated over time. She was previously convicted of theft and possession of marijuana at ages 17 and 20 and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon at age 27. Laufenberg was selling methamphetamine while on probation for possession of methamphetamine as a third offender, as well as while on probation for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Laufenberg previously had a deferred judgment in state court revoked after she tried to stab a man with a knife.
Laufenberg was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Laufenberg was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Laufenberg is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-1046-LTS.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
