Sioux City, Iowa — An Illinois man who led Clay County authorities on a pursuit in October and who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm pleaded guilty last week in federal court in Sioux City and faces at least 15 years in prison.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, 32-year-old Shawn Gaston of Peru, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The US Attorney’s office tells us that at the plea hearing, Gaston admitted from February 2020 through October 2021, he and others distributed methamphetamine across Northern Iowa and elsewhere. In October 2021, law enforcement in Clay County, Iowa attempted to effectuate a traffic stop on a vehicle Gaston was operating. Gaston led law enforcement on a lengthy high-speed pursuit with Gaston’s vehicle ultimately crashing into a creek near Milford. They say Gaston exited the vehicle after the crash and disposed of a firearm and methamphetamine about 20 yards from the vehicle before being apprehended. He had previously been convicted of at least four felony convictions, including possession of stolen property and possession of drugs. These convictions prohibit Gaston from possessing any firearm.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gaston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years with 10 years in prison on the drug convictions plus a consecutive term of 5 years in prison on the gun conviction and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20.5 million fine, and life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
