Oscar Navarro-Zepeda, a 43-year-old resident of Spencer, Iowa, received a federal prison sentence of 17 years on January 31, 2025. This sentencing follows his conviction by a jury on August 22, 2024, after a three-and-a-half-day trial in Sioux City federal court. The charges against Navarro-Zepeda included conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm by prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
During the trial, evidence presented demonstrated that between April 2021 and April 2023, Navarro-Zepeda participated in distributing over 31 kilograms of methamphetamine within the Northern District of Iowa and other areas. A search warrant executed at his residence in Spencer on April 18, 2023, led to the seizure of approximately 33 pounds of methamphetamine packaged individually for distribution. Additionally, law enforcement confiscated $17,932 in cash; an AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle; two loaded magazines; other .223 ammunition; and various drug distribution paraphernalia. It was revealed that Navarro-Zepeda possessed firearms despite being prohibited from doing so and used them to protect himself and his illegal activities.
The sentencing was presided over by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Alongside the imprisonment term of 204 months, Navarro-Zepeda is required to serve five years under supervised release post-incarceration. It is noted that parole is not available within the federal system. Until he is transferred to a federal prison facility, Navarro-Zepeda remains under the custody of the United States Marshal.