Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
Richard Martinez, a 30-year-old resident of Sioux City, Iowa, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2025, in federal court to charges related to methamphetamine distribution.
During the plea hearing, it was revealed that on July 17, 2024, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino near Sloan, Iowa. Authorities observed a vehicle leaving the casino at a speed above the posted limit and attempted to stop it. The vehicle accelerated away from police. While fleeing, two packages containing methamphetamine were thrown from the passenger window. Officers later recovered approximately half a pound of methamphetamine from where it was discarded.
Martinez admitted that during the pursuit, the driver handed him the methamphetamine and told him to throw it out of the window. He complied with this instruction.
Sentencing for Martinez will take place before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after completion of a presentence report. Martinez is being held by the United States Marshal while awaiting sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could receive up to forty years’ imprisonment, as well as a fine up to $5 million and supervised release ranging from four years to life following any prison term.
