Ida Grove Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy

 Mackey was caught with $18,000 and more than 2 pounds of meth.

A man who conspired to distribute over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine pled guilty June 17, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

Cory Mackey, 34, from Ida Grove, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from February 2019 through July 9, 2020, Mackey and others conspired to distribute over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  On January 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Mackey’s home and found approximately 49 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.  In July 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Mackey was a passenger.  Upon a search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered over 1.25 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $18,000 in cash.  Mackey admitted he planned to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to other persons.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Mackey remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Mackey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and five years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, DCI Laboratory, and Ida County Sheriff’s Office.