SIOUX CITY — A Fort Dodge man has admitted his role in a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking conspiracy after federal prosecutors say he repeatedly sold drugs to people working with law enforcement, then fled Iowa in an attempt to avoid prosecution.
Dion Miller, 49, of Fort Dodge, pleaded guilty July 20, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to federal prosecutors, Miller admitted that from July 2024 through January 2025, he and others conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine in the Fort Dodge area.
The investigation also included multiple undercover or controlled drug transactions.
Evidence showed that on three separate occasions during 2024 and 2025, Miller distributed methamphetamine and cocaine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
But Miller didn’t stick around to face the music.
Federal authorities say he fled Iowa in an effort to avoid prosecution after being indicted.
His run ended about three months later when authorities arrested him in Jackson, Mississippi.
Miller now remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while awaiting sentencing.
A sentencing date will be set after a federal presentence investigation report is completed.
The stakes are substantial.
Miller faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and could receive as much as life behind bars. He also faces a potential fine of up to $25 million and at least five years of supervised release following any prison sentence.
His guilty plea comes amid continued federal pressure on methamphetamine trafficking networks operating in and around Fort Dodge and Webster County.
Federal prosecutors have announced several major drug cases tied to the Fort Dodge area in recent months, including cases involving defendants accused of distributing pounds of methamphetamine, selling drugs to cooperating witnesses and operating as significant local suppliers.
Earlier this year, a Fort Dodge man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after admitting involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine. Another Fort Dodge defendant was sentenced in July to 13 years after admitting to methamphetamine trafficking that included multiple controlled buys and a high-speed police chase.
A Fort Dodge woman was also sentenced this month to more than 12 years in federal prison after admitting involvement in distributing approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine.
Those cases are separate from Miller’s prosecution but illustrate the scale of ongoing federal and local efforts targeting methamphetamine distribution in the region.
Miller’s case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Okoboji Police Department, Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Dodge Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn S. Wehde is prosecuting the case.
Miller will remain jailed pending sentencing.