Sioux City, Iowa — A Minnesota man has been sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison for gun and drug convictions.
According to the US Attorney’s office, 32-year-old Shawn Gaston conspired across multiple states to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm. He was sentenced last week in federal court in Sioux City.
Gaston, who is from Fairmont, Minnesota, pled guilty last July, to 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.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from February 2020 through October 2021, Gaston and others distributed approximately 27 pounds of methamphetamine across Northern Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In October 2021, law enforcement in Clay County, Iowa, attempted to effectuate a traffic stop on a vehicle Gaston was operating. They tell us Gaston led law enforcement on a lengthy high-speed pursuit with Gaston’s vehicle ultimately crashing into a creek in Dickinson County. Gaston exited the vehicle after the crash and attempted to dispose of a gun and methamphetamine before being apprehended.
They tell us the gun and methamphetamine were found approximately 20 yards from the crashed vehicle. Gaston had been in Iowa to collect on a drug debt owed to him.
Gaston reportedly had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of stolen property and possession of drugs. The convictions prohibit Gaston from legally possessing guns.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gaston was sentenced to 295 months in federal prison (that’s about 24 and a half years), and he must serve a term of five years’ supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
