Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Fort Dodge man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
Matthew Groat, 41, admitted on January 6, 2026, that between August and November 2025 he and others distributed more than 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine in the Fort Dodge area. According to his plea, Groat distributed about 10 grams of cocaine on two occasions in September 2025 to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. He also distributed over 130 grams of pure methamphetamine during two incidents in September and three incidents in October 2025. Additionally, Groat acknowledged obtaining between five and ten pounds of methamphetamine from a local source during the four-month period and selling it throughout the community.
Groat is currently being held by the United States Marshal while awaiting sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. The sentencing date will be set after completion of a presentence report. Groat faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, with a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
