Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine and Firearm Charges Following a Hit and Run Accident

 Moss was in possession of stolen handgun and meth when captured by police.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty April 19, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

Daniel Moss, 45, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm.  Previously, in 2009, Moss was convicted of another drug felony offense in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine within a protected location, and employment or use of person under 18 to assist in conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, Moss admitted that from June 2020 through about July 5, 2020, he conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to others in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area.  On or about July 5, 2020, Moss was involved in a hit and run accident with another vehicle.  After fleeing the scene, Fort Dodge police officers pursued Moss and ultimately caught him that same day, at which time Moss assaulted a police officer and a loaded handgun fell from his waistband. The firearm was later determined to be stolen.  Moss also had approximately $2,500 and a black Nike sports duffel bag he discarded as he fled the accident.  A search of the Nike sports bag revealed a drug ledger, paperwork with Moss’ name, syringes, baggies with residue, a scale, a cell phone, approximately $14,500, and approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine.  Another bag found within Moss’ abandoned vehicle contained approximately 54 grams of pure methamphetamine, a scale, and a pipe used for ingesting controlled substances.  Moss’s prior felony conviction, and drug use, prohibited him from possessing a gun.   

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Moss remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  On the conspiracy conviction, Moss faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  On the firearm conviction, Moss faces a maximum sentence of not more than 10 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.        

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Iowa DCI.