Group Tied to Distribution of Half Ton of Methamphetamine in Iowa Sentenced to Prison

Anthony Comer Goodmann, from Chicago, Illinois, originally from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced October 1, 2026, to over 25 years in prison. Goodmann was the last defendant in a large-scale, multi-defendant drug conspiracy to be sentenced. Five other people have previously been sentenced for their involvement in the conspiracy:

• Jason John Weipert, age 43, from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced July 24, 2026, to nearly 10 years' imprisonment.
• Steven Douglas Paul, age 53, from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced July 23, 2026, to over 7 years' imprisonment.
• Michael Leigh Schmidt, age 44, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced July 17, 2026, to over 28 years' imprisonment.
• Justin Smith, age 44, from Galesburg, Illinois, was sentenced July 8, 2026, to over 10 years' imprisonment.
• Nichole Marie Schmidt, age 43, from Galesburg, Illinois, was sentenced January 29, 2026, to over 25 years' imprisonment.

The group received the prison terms after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice" methamphetamine. Both Michael Schmidt and Nichole Marie Schmidt have prior federal drug trafficking convictions.

Evidence at their plea hearings and sentencings showed that around August 2021, Goodmann started dealing pound-level quantities of ice methamphetamine to others for the purpose of redistributing and selling to other people. Goodmann was living in Chicago at the time but drove to Dubuque with the methamphetamine or had others drive to Chicago to pick it up from him. Goodmann started dealing to Paul, Weipert, and Nichole and Michael Schmidt. Paul and Weipert primarily dealt to others in the Dubuque area. The Schmidts dealt to others in the Dubuque area and around Des Moines.

In March 2023, police stopped Goodmann while he was driving in Dubuque. Officers searched his car and found over 260 grams of methamphetamine, 15 grams of cocaine, and heroin.

On September 9, 2024, the Schmidts paid Justin Smith to drive a rental car from Davenport to Chicago. In Chicago, Smith picked up approximately 12 pounds of methamphetamine and a gun from Goodmann. Smith then drove the rental car back to Davenport. The Schmidts then took the rental car. Officers stopped the car while it was still in Davenport. Officers searched the car and found 12 pounds of pure methamphetamine, oxycodone, LSD, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded Ruger LCP, .380 auto caliber pistol.

On September 29, 2024, police stopped Paul while driving in Dubuque. Officers searched the car he was driving and found over 427 grams of methamphetamine and approximately three grams of ketamine. Paul was returning from Chicago, where he had just received the drugs from Goodmann.

On February 19, 2025, police stopped Goodmann while driving in Dubuque. He was travelling from from Chicago. As he was stopping the car, he threw 444 grams of pure methamphetamine out of the window. Officers recovered the drugs. Officers also found small quantities of cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA in the car.

On February 27, 2025, police stopped Weipert while driving in Dubuque. Officers searched the car and found 187 grams of pure methamphetamine. Weipert was returning from Illinois, where he had received the drugs from Goodmann.

In total, Goodmann and the Schmidt's were involved with over 450,000 grams of ice methamphetamine. During sentencing, the judge described this amount of drugs as "astronomical."

All defendants were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.

• Goodmann was sentenced to 307 months' imprisonment. He must serve five years of supervised release upon his release.
• Weipert was sentenced to 118 months and 23 days' imprisonment. He must serve five years of supervised release upon his release.
• Paul was sentenced to 87 months' imprisonment. He must serve five years of supervised release upon his release.
• Michael Schmidt was sentenced to 337 months and 21 days' imprisonment. He must serve 10 years of supervised release upon his release.
• Smith was sentenced to 125 months' imprisonment. He must serve five years of supervised release upon his release.
• Nichole Schmidt was sentenced to 304 months' imprisonment. She must serve 10 years of supervised release upon her release.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Dillan Edwards. The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Illinois State Police Narcotics and Currency Interdiction Task Force.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The case file numbers are 25-CR-1021, 25-CR-1024, and 25-CR-1034.

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