Spencer Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine

Leon Scott Banks, age 42, from Spencer, Iowa, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to just over three years' imprisonment. On February 20, 2024, Banks pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, within 1,000 feet of a protected location.

Evidence at the hearings showed that law enforcement received information that Banks possessed a firearm as a felon and was distributing controlled substances from his residence in Spencer, Iowa. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was across the street from Lincoln Elementary School in Spencer. During the search of his residence, law enforcement found more than half a pound of cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, containers of THC edibles, a digital scale, ammunition, a Glock .22 pistol with ammunition, and $16,000 in cash.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Banks was sentenced to 37 months' imprisonment and six years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Banks is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer Police Department.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 23-CR-04066.

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