A Council Bluffs man, Richard Dean Putnam, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of a distribution quantity of methamphetamine. According to public court documents, the 62-year-old was found with over 85 grams of methamphetamine and 200 grams of marijuana at his residence in March 2024. Authorities also discovered nearly $10,000, two pellet guns, and two rounds of ammunition.
Putnam had previous convictions for felony drug offenses and domestic abuse assault charges in the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County. These convictions prohibit him from possessing firearms and ammunition. Following his imprisonment, Putnam will serve a five-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The program aims to create safer neighborhoods through trust-building, supporting community-based violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.