SIOUX CITY – A Fort Dodge man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 28, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Michael Halstead, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of ammunition. Halstead was previously convicted of burglary in California in 2010.
At the plea hearing, Halstead admitted that from about August 2016 through November 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than seven pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge and Webster County areas. Halstead arranged for his mother and other family members to transport methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine, by car and train, from California to Iowa.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Halstead remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Halstead faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and five years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the illegal possession of ammunition conviction, Halstead faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment; a $250,000 file, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
