Mason City Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

Justin Zobel, 37, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced May 5, 2026, to more than 18 years in federal prison, after a December 15, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence in the case revealed that between February 2023, and continuing through February 2024, Zobel was involved in an ongoing methamphetamine distribution conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa. Law enforcement documented Zobel actively engaged in drug trafficking, including the sale of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Zobel has a lengthy criminal history and began distributing methamphetamine immediately after being released from custody for a prior conviction. Zobel's prior convictions include numerous thefts, burglaries, eluding, domestic abuse assault, assault, and controlled substance convictions.

Zobel was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 225 months' imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Zobel is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.

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 25-3024.

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