Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Mason City resident has entered a guilty plea in federal court for charges related to drug distribution and illegal firearm possession. Jacob Shafer, 34, was convicted on May 7, 2025, in Sioux City for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and unlawfully possessing firearms.
Shafer's legal troubles began with prior convictions in March 2022 for methamphetamine possession with intent to deliver and trafficking stolen weapons. These convictions legally barred him from firearm possession.
During his plea hearing, Shafer acknowledged these past offenses and admitted to being an unlawful drug user while possessing firearms. Evidence presented revealed that a search of Shafer’s residence in March 2024 uncovered four bags of methamphetamine along with various drug paraphernalia. Law enforcement also seized multiple firearms including a Ruger LCP .380 pistol, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, an Intratec AB-10 9mm pistol, and a Rock Island Armory .45 caliber pistol along with several rounds of ammunition.
Shafer confessed that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine found during the search. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department initiated this strategy on May 26, 2021.
Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after a presentence report is completed. Until then, Shafer remains in custody under the supervision of the United States Marshal. For his conviction on possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Shafer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years, alongside potential fines and supervised release conditions. For illegal firearm possession, he could receive up to fifteen years imprisonment and additional penalties.
