Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area was sentenced January 17, 2025, to 126 months in federal prison.

Carolyn Michaels (Woodman), 60, recently from Ankeny, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 19, 2024, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine in a protected zone.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Michaels was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in 2023/2024. Additional evidence showed Michaels distributed a total of six ounces of methamphetamine over three transactions to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a search warrant at Michaels' residence, law enforcement seized drug use/trafficking paraphernalia, including: several cellular telephones, a scale, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Michaels admitted to obtaining pound quantities of methamphetamine from sources in Fort Dodge and re-distributing it in ounce to ¼ pound quantities to several persons in Fort Dodge area.

Michaels was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Michaels was sentenced to 126 months' imprisonment. She must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Michaels is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Webster County Attorney's Office.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-3012.

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