Two More Members of Waterloo Meth Conspiracy Plead Guilty

March 19, 2010 - Two more men involved in distributing methamphetamine for a large-scale Waterloo methamphetamine conspiracy pled guilty March 10, 2010, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Jamie Smith, 29, and Oscar Ruiz, 30, both from Waterloo, Iowa, were convicted of drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

At his plea hearing, Smith admitted he was involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine. He is the eighth defendant to plead guilty to a charge involving the Waterloo methamphetamine conspiracy that lasted from January 2005 through about August 21, 2009.

At his plea hearing, Ruiz admitted he was involved in the distribution of more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine. He is the ninth defendant to plead guilty to a charge involving this Waterloo methamphetamine conspiracy.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after presentence reports have been prepared. Smith and Ruiz were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Smith and Ruiz face sentences of at least 10 years’ imprisonment up to life, a $4,000,000 fine, and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment. Both will also forfeit drug proceeds up to $1,000,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Oelwein Police Department, the Tri-County Drug Task Force, Cedar Rapids DEA Task Force, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Tri-County Drug Task Force is composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Bremer County Sheriff’s Office, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, LaPorte City Police Department, Evansdale Police Department, Hudson Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Cedar Rapids Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consists of the DEA; Linn County Sheriff's Office; Cedar Rapids Police Department; Marion Police Department; Iowa City Police Department; Clinton Police Department; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services; and Iowa National Guard.