Braleigh Schossow, a 24-year-old resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has admitted guilt in federal court in Sioux City to charges of conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The plea was entered on February 11, 2025.
During the hearing, evidence presented revealed that Schossow and others involved distributed at least 22 pounds of fentanyl from December 2020 to February 2024 in Fort Dodge and other locations.
Schossow is awaiting sentencing by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after a presentence report is completed. She remains in custody under the United States Marshals Service until sentencing. The potential penalties include a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison, up to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City. This task force includes personnel from multiple agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.