Sioux City, Iowa — A Milford man who admitted conspiring to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced Monday to 15 years in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 49-year old Justin Stephen Ries, of Milford, received the prison term after a September guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the release, at sentencing and during prior court proceedings, the government presented evidence that last June, law enforcement executed three search warrants and seized a total of 380.5 grams of methamphetamine, 169.76 grams of marijuana, 0.51 grams of fentanyl/heroin, two fentanyl transdermal patches, 29 unused syringes, fifteen shotgun shells, and $24,874.00 in U.S. currency from Ries. They say evidence also showed that Ries accumulated 31 criminal convictions during his lifetime, including convictions for felony drug offenses, violent assaults, and driving while intoxicated.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Ries was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. He was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ries is reportedly being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
