SIOUX CITY – A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy pled guilty August 13, 2013, in federal court in Sioux City.
James Edward Poole, 33, from Boone, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, Poole admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from 2012 through January 2013 that distributed more than 1000 grams of mixed methamphetamine which contained at least 150 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. On January 8, 2013, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Poole and his wife, Shannon Poole. During a search of the vehicle, officers located and seized about over 134 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, $377.74 in U.S. Currency, and a loaded handgun (namely a Kel-Tec .380). Poole admitted he had just obtained the methamphetamine from his source near Webster City, Iowa, and planned to distribute it to other person(s).
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Poole remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Poole faces 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. On the firearm conviction, Poole faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment consecutive to any term imposed on the conspiracy conviction and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and up to five years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster City Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
