Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Colorado man, Ryan Miller, has pled guilty to charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as illegal firearm possession. The plea was entered on June 27, 2025, in a federal court in Sioux City.
Miller, aged 40 and recently residing in Pilot Mound, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possessing a firearm illegally. His previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2017 barred him from legally owning a firearm.
During the plea hearing, Miller confessed that he conspired with others from January 2024 through April 27, 2024, to distribute at least half a pound of methamphetamine and over 1,700 fentanyl pills. On April 21, 2024, Miller and two associates were traveling to Colorado to acquire more methamphetamine and sell fentanyl pills when they engaged law enforcement in a high-speed chase. During this pursuit, Miller discarded two pop cans containing fentanyl pills from the vehicle. Additionally, his co-defendants made false emergency calls to divert law enforcement attention.
On the same day as the chase, authorities executed a search warrant at Miller's residence. They discovered small quantities of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a loaded .22 caliber Beretta handgun.
Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand following the preparation of a presentence report. Until sentencing occurs, Miller remains under the custody of the United States Marshal. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment with potential life imprisonment possibilities. Additionally, he could face an $8.25 million fine and at least eight years of supervised release after any prison term.
