SIOUX CITY – An Iowa man who had guns has been sent to prison for dealing meth in the Humboldt area.
Eric Humphrey, 33, from Des Moines, Iowa, received a 15-year prison term at sentencing on October 22 after a February 21, 2018, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the guilty plea, Humphrey admitted he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine from September 2017 through October 2017 in the Humboldt, Iowa area. On October 20, 2017, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Humphrey for an outstanding warrant, Humphrey fled and a high-speed chase ensued. During the chase, Humphrey led police near an elementary school that was releasing students at the time, hit the car of a teenage driver, a parked car, and two police vehicles causing significant damage. After Humphrey was apprehended, his vehicle was searched, and officers seized methamphetamine, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, cash, several cell phones and drug paraphernalia. In a subsequent search of Humphrey’s residence, which was near an elementary school, officers seized a second Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol.
Humphrey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Humphrey was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $19,977.20 in restitution. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Humphrey 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 Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Criminal Division of Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
