Fort Dodge man pleads guilty to meth and gun offenses

SIOUX CITY – A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking pled guilty August 15, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.

Matthew Guthrie, age 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

At the plea hearing, Guthrie admitted that from January 2019 through April 16, 2019 he and others distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. On three separate occasions Guthrie distributed a total of more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a later search of Guthrie’s residence, law enforcement seized four firearms (two of which were loaded), methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, scales, a drug ledger, and other items indicative of drug distribution.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Guthrie remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Guthrie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm conviction, Guthrie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment which must be served consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the conspiracy conviction, and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and no more than five years of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Drug Task Force, Carroll County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.