A man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who is also a Guatemalan national, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Johny Fernando Diaz-Mendez, aged 47, was sentenced on November 26, 2024. He faced charges for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon and in relation to his drug trafficking activities.
Diaz-Mendez was arrested in March 2024 when authorities found him with a firearm in his waistband and a large quantity of methamphetamine. Following his imprisonment, he will be required to serve an additional five-year term of supervised release. It is noted that there is no parole available within the federal system.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal from the Southern District of Iowa. The investigation into this case was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement along with the Iowa State Patrol.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on fostering trust within communities, supporting community-based organizations to prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.