Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Gun and Drug Charges

 A man who was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, and later possessed over 1 kilogram of pure methamphetamine and guns, pled guilty on September 7, 2021, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Matthew Shawn Victor Bridges, age 30, from Marshalltown, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, one count of possessing three rifles on January 3, 2020, after having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, and one count of possessing two more firearms on February 16, 2020.

In a plea agreement, Bridges admitted that, on January 3, 2020, he was in possession of more than 1000 grams of pure methamphetamine when Iowa Falls police officers responded to a suspicious car near a warehouse. Officers found a running vehicle that contained a large quantity of methamphetamine and three rifles near the vehicle.  On February 16, 2020, Iowa Falls police officers were investigating a home invasion and assault when the saw Bridges driving by the scene.  When they searched his vehicle, officers found more methamphetamine and two more firearms.  

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.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Bridges remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Bridges faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by the Iowa Falls Police Department, Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, the Hardin County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.