SIOUX CITY – Three Fort Dodge men who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed stolen firearms were sentenced in federal prison. Osborne and Petersen were sentenced January 28, 2020, and Swan was sentenced on June 18, 2020.
Marcus Swan, 29, pled guilty December 31, 2019, Lucas Osborne, 30, pled guilty August 20, 2019, and Kenneth Petersen, 41, pled guilty on September 10, 2019. Each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of stolen firearms.
Evidence showed that together the defendants possessed five guns that were stolen during a burglary in Kossuth County, Iowa. Swan and Petersen were also prohibited from possessing firearms based on their prior felony convictions. Osborne was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and therefore also prohibited from possessing firearms. Additionally, evidence shows that the three distributed methamphetamine from October 2018 through February 2019. In total the methamphetamine conspiracy involved the distribution of over 16 pounds of methamphetamine in and around the Fort Dodge area.
Each were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Osborne was sentenced to 153 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Petersen was sentenced to 98 months’ imprisonment, with a 4-year term of supervised release following the prison term. Swan was sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment and a 4-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Each are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1217186/download.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
dumbass crackers, hang em.