SIOUX CITY – A man who conspired to distribute meth was sentenced on September 30, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City to 15 years in federal prison.
Raul Flores Marin, 47, from Bigelow, Minnesota, was convicted on April 25, 2019, after a four-day jury trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The evidence at trial showed that in the early morning hours on July 19, 2017, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a suspicious pickup truck with Minnesota license plates trespassing on property in rural Osceola County. While traveling towards the residence, law enforcement observed a pickup bearing Minnesota plates heading away from the property. Shortly after following the truck, it veered onto the left-hand side of the gravel road and almost into the ditch and a traffic stop was initiated. Law enforcement encountered Marin and after a search of the truck, law enforcement located and seized a 9mm handgun along with over 15 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence at trial further showed that Marin was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Osceola County, Iowa area.
Marin was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Marin was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Marin remains in custody of the United States Marshals until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala M. Steenholdt and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Osceola County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
