SIOUX CITY – A Northern Iowa man with at lest 31 criminal convictions who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on January 29, 2018, to 15 years in federal prison.
Justin Stephen Ries, 49, from Milford, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 15, 2017, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At sentencing and during prior court proceedings, the government presented evidence that on June 12, 2017, law enforcement executed three search warrants and seized a total of 380.5 grams of methamphetamine, 169.76 grams of marijuana, 0.51 grams of fentanyl/heroin, two fentanyl transdermal patches, 29 unused syringes, fifteen shotgun shells, and $24,874.00 in U.S. currency from Ries. Evidence also showed that Ries accumulated 31 criminal convictions during his lifetime, including convictions for felony drug offenses, violent assaults, and driving while intoxicated.
Ries was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ries was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ries is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ajay J. Alexander and investigated by the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, specifically the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Spencer Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations.
