Mason City Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and Intent to Distribute Meth

A Mason City man who possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegally possessed a firearm pled guilty May 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

Jacob Shafer, 34, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. Shafer was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and trafficking in stolen weapons in Iowa in March of 2022. Both of these convictions prohibit a person from possessing any firearm.

At the plea hearing, Shafer admitted to the prior convictions and being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. Evidence at the hearing further showed that in March 2024, during the execution of a search warrant at Shafer's home, law enforcement seized: four bags of methamphetamine; drug paraphernalia including pipes, bongs, grinders, and baggies; a digital scale; ninety-six .380 caliber Winchester rounds of ammunition; a Ruger LCP, .380 pistol, and a total of 6 rounds of ammunition, which included a round in the chamber; a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, and a total of 13 rounds of ammunition; an Intratec AB-10, 9mm pistol, and a total of 22 rounds of ammunition in the magazine; and a Rock Island Armory, .45 caliber pistol. Shafer admitted that he planned on distributing the methamphetamine that officers found.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Shafer remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. For the possession with intent to distribute conviction, Shafer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years' imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years' imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm possession conviction, Shafer faces not more than 15 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 file, and not more than three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office, Mason City Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.

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

The case file number is 24-3055. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.