Had girlfriend transport meth on bus from California to distribute in Iowa
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a gun pled guilty June 3, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Robinson Nguyen, 38, from Selma, California, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of illegally possessing a firearm. Nguyen was previously convicted of at least four felony offenses in California, ranging from thefts to possession of a controlled substance to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Nguyen admitted that from about September 2017 through July 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed over a pound of methamphetamine. Evidence at the hearing showed that Nguyen arranged for co-conspirator Jocelyn Mendoza to travel by bus from Fresno, California to Sioux City, Iowa with approximately ¼ pound of methamphetamine hidden inside a neck rest. Nguyen and others in the conspiracy intended to distribute this methamphetamine. Law enforcement later seized a 9mm pistol from a search of the house where Nguyen resided. Nguyen admitted he possessed the gun for protection from robbery.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Nguyen remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Nguyen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and four years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that 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 Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4089. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
