SIOUX CITY – A Spencer, Iowa, couple who conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine pled guilty May 8, 2013, in federal court in Sioux City.
Vicki Shannon, 50, and John Gekas, 46, from Spencer, Iowa, were convicted of conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Shannon and Gekas each admitted their involvement in a conspiracy from about 2010 through January 2013 that manufactured and distributed more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. According to pseudoephedrine purchase logs obtained in the investigation, starting in January 2010 through December 2012, Gekas acquired at least 96.48 grams of pseudoephedrine and starting in August 2010 through January 2013, Shannon acquired at least 136.9 grams of pseudoephedrine for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after presentence reports are prepared. Shannon and Gekas were taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty pleas and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and five years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
