CEDAR RAPIDS – A Northern Iowa man who sold methamphetamine for over a year and who possessed over 20 firearms, including a stolen firearm, was sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison.
Shawn Chevchuc, age 45, from Lime Springs, Iowa, received the prison term late last month after a March 1, 2017, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a felon.
At the guilty plea, Chevchuc admitted he was involved with others in selling methamphetamine from 2015 through 2016. Information disclosed during the sentencing hearing indicated that, during this time period, Chevchuc was involved with selling over two kilograms of methamphetamine. He also possessed over 20 firearms, including one firearm that had been previously stolen during a burglary. Chevchuc had multiple prior burglary and drug convictions and was prohibited from possessing any firearms because he was a felon.
Chevchuc was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Chevchuc was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $200 was imposed. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Chevchuc is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, the Decorah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).
Scores of guns? A score is 20.