Sioux City, Iowa — A Pierson man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine has been sentenced to over eleven years in federal prison.
According to the US Attorney’s office, 35-year-old Zackary Smith of Pierson pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The US Attorney’s Office says that at the plea and sentencing hearings, the evidence showed that from August 2018 through April 18, 2019, Smith and others conspired to distribute more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine in the Cherokee County area. In April 2019, law enforcement executed a search of a rural Cherokee County residence and seized about 1.5 pounds of pure methamphetamine at locations throughout the property. Also, the US Attorney’s Office says that at the time of the search, Smith was found attempting to flush about 10 ounces of methamphetamine down a toilet before officers could seize it. Smith further admitted to traveling with other co-conspirators to Omaha, Nebraska to obtain pounds of methamphetamine to distribute in Northwest Iowa.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Smith was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison and must serve a five-year of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
