Sioux City Woman Off to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

 Previously Convicted in Federal Court for Methamphetamine Trafficking

A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on September 2, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.

Jennie Kazena, 38, from Sioux City, pled guilty on February 18, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  Kazena was previously convicted in federal court of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 19, 2010.

Evidence at hearings in the case showed that between January 2019 and October 2019, Kazena and others distributed more than 150 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine and more than 10 pounds of mixed methamphetamine overall in the Sioux City area.  On March 1, 2019, agents seized ½ ounce of methamphetamine from Kazena in two separate law enforcement operations.  On October 3, 2019, in a controlled operation by law enforcement, Kazena distributed ¼ pound of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.  On October 21, 2019, in a traffic stop, Kazena was found to possess ½ ounce of methamphetamine and admitted to agents her involvement in the distribution of at least two pounds of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area for a large source.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Kazena was sentenced to 126 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of seven years of supervised release following imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.