Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal Gun

On December 1, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Ryan Miller, 40, most recently residing in Pilot Mound, Iowa, was sentenced. On June 27, 2025, Miller pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Miller was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2017, this conviction prohibits him from possessing a firearm.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from January 2024 through April 27, 2024, Miller and others conspired to distribute at least ½ pound of methamphetamine and more than 1700 fentanyl pills. On April 21, 2024, Miller and two others were headed to Colorado to pick up more methamphetamine and to sell fentanyl pills. They attempted to elude law enforcement in a high-speed vehicle chase during which Miller threw two pop cans containing fentanyl pills from the vehicle. In an attempt to distract the police, Miller's two co-defendants made "false" 911 calls. Later on the same date, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Miller's residence and seized a small amount of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a loaded .22 caliber Beretta handgun.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 112 months' imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller 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 Ida and Sac County Sheriff's Offices, the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff's Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and the Woodbury County Attorney's Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Iowa DCI Laboratory.

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

The case file number is 24-4042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.