A woman involved in distributing a large quantity of methamphetamine has been sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison. Candace Sue Thein, aged 42, from Dike, Iowa, received her sentence on March 17, 2025, following her guilty plea on October 3, 2024. She admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
The sentencing revealed that between December 2023 and May 22, 2024, Thein collaborated with others to receive multiple packages containing ice methamphetamine and marijuana from a supplier in California. Over this period, the group acquired more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine which they redistributed across Waterloo, Dike, Reinbeck, and Hudson in Iowa. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement searched several residences receiving these packages including Thein's home in Dike. In an incident on June 15, 2024, Thein and two accomplices confronted one of her drug customers for money; during this encounter, threats were made by the accomplices while Thein broke into the customer's residence and stole his cellphone.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids. Thein was given a prison term of 292 months followed by three years of supervised release without parole as per federal regulations. Until she is transferred to a federal prison facility, she remains under the custody of the United States Marshal.
Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards prosecuted the case which was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Postal Service; Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force comprising various local police departments; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force; Grundy County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa State Patrol; and Santa Ana Police Department from California.