Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Marion, Iowa man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for distributing ice methamphetamine. Robert Owen Bell, 48, received his sentence on August 13, 2025, following a guilty plea entered on February 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents and investigators, Bell and another individual conspired throughout 2023 to distribute over 1.5 kilograms of ice methamphetamine in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Law enforcement used a confidential source who made two controlled purchases from Bell totaling over 100 grams of the drug. On November 14, 2023, officers observed Bell driving to and from his co-conspirator’s residence before conducting a traffic stop. During the search of Bell's vehicle, police seized approximately 65.64 grams of ice methamphetamine.
Bell was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids to serve 130 months in prison. After completing his sentence, he will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
"There is no parole in the federal system."
