Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

Bryce Garrels, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on June 22, 2026, to 183 months' imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing on February 6, 2026, Garrels admitted that from July 2024 through August 2025, he and others were involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 1 ½ pounds of meth in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. Evidence further showed that on at least four occasions in July and August 2025, Garrels distributed or helped others distribute methamphetamine, ranging from one to four ounces.

Garrels was previously convicted of seven felony offenses in the State of Iowa, including Burglary 3^rd Degree in 2011, 2015, and 2022, and Forgery in 2020, 2021 and 2022, as well as Possession of a Counterfeit Substance with Intent to Deliver in 2021.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Garrels to 183 months' imprisonment along with a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Garrels remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

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

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 number is 25-3043. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.