A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed guns pled guilty March 12, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.

Wayne Allen Quillen, Jr. 49, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.  Quillen was convicted of possession of methamphetamine and/or amphetamine with intent to distribute in Webster County, Iowa in March 2001.  

At the plea hearing, Quillen admitted that from about 2017 through July 2018, he and others conspired to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area.  On December 27, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence Quillen and co-defendant Cody Groat resided at.  At that time officers seized over ½ pound of methamphetamine, three handguns, a modified shotgun with no serial number, and assorted 9mm ammunition.  It was later determined that two of the 9mm handguns had been stolen from a large scale firearm burglary/arson case in Calhoun County, Iowa.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Quillen remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  On the drug convictions, Quillen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, with a consecutive mandatory minimum 5 years’ imprisonment on one gun conviction, and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, up to a $24,500,000 in fines, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Webster County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 18-3023.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

 A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms was sentenced May 15, 2019, to 15 years in federal prison.

Cody Groat, 25, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 16, 2018, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of firearms by a domestic abuser.  Groat was previously convicted of domestic abuse assault in July of 2013.  

At sentencing, the district court found that from about 2017 through July 2018, Groat and others conspired to distribute more than four pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area.  On December 27, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Groat’s residence.  At that time officers seized about ¾ pound of methamphetamine, three handguns, a shotgun, and assorted 9mm ammunition.  It was later determined that two of the 9mm handguns had been stolen from a large scale firearm (150+) burglary/arson case in Calhoun County, Iowa.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  

Groat was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Groat was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Groat is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Webster County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 18-3023.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing firearms was sentenced August 30, 2019, to 20 years in federal prison.

Wayne Quillen, age 49, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.  Quillen was previously convicted of robbery in the first degree in 1989 and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in 2001, each in Webster County, Iowa.  

At the plea hearing on March 12, 2019, Quillen admitted that from about 2017 through July 2018, he and others conspired to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area.  On December 27, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of a co-conspirator, Cody Groat, where Quillen was living.  Officers seized ¾ pound of methamphetamine, three handguns, a modified (short) .410 shotgun with no serial number, and assorted 9mm ammunition.  Two of the 9mm handguns had been stolen and the short shotgun possessed by defendant had a makeshift shoulder strap and was found just outside defendant’s bedroom in the basement.  

Quillen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Quillen was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Quillen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Webster County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 18-3023.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.