Repeat Federal Offender to Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

Jermiah Preston, 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa was sentenced on October 9, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Preston pled guilty May 22, 2024, to distribution of methamphetamine.

In March 2017, Preston was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing a controlled substance in the United States District Court in Northern District of Iowa.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on January 23, 2023, law enforcement, utilizing a confidential informant, set-up and conducted a 1.5 ounce controlled methamphetamine transaction from Preston. During a traffic stop after the transaction, Preston was observed to throw two bags of methamphetamine out the window of the vehicle. The controlled buy money expended was found on Preston's person and DNA came back on each bag of methamphetamine matching Preston.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Preston was sentenced to 66 months' imprisonment which was imposed consecutive to his 24-month sentence previously imposed on the revocation of his previous federal supervised release. Preston must also serve a term of four years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Preston remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Webster County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Fort Dodge Police Department.

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

The case file number is 23-3029. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.