SIOUX CITY – A man and woman who conspired with each other and others to distribute methamphetamine were each sentenced to federal prison.
Elyaxel Vasquez, 31, and Ashley Shivers, 31, both from Fort Dodge, Iowa received the prison terms after guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the guilty pleas, Vasquez and Shivers both admitted their involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa, area from about 2014 continuing through December 2015. Both were also involved in the distribution of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
Vasquez and Shivers were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Vasquez was sentenced to 126 months’ imprisonment and Shivers was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed for each. They each must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vasquez and Shivers are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Tri-County Drug Task Force, Webster County Drug Task Force, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
