Despite three prior felony drug convictions, Mercer was involved in the distribution of over five pounds of meth
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on March 7, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Lee Charles Mercer, 42, from Galva, Iowa, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 21, 2018. Mercer was previously convicted of three separate felony drug offenses in the Iowa District Court in 2013, 2004 and 1998.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings, showed that from November 2017 through March 2018, Mercer was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2500 grams of methamphetamine near Galva, Iowa. On March 12, 2018, Mercer was stopped for a traffic violation in Woodbury County, Iowa, and found in possession of meth, and $5,000 in cash. Mercer admitted he planned to distribute the methamphetamine to other persons. Mercer further admitted that he planned to use the $5,000 to purchase a pound of methamphetamine in Sioux City, Iowa.
Mercer was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mercer was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a term of ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Mercer is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux City Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4018.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
