(Sioux City)– A Spencer man has been convicted on federal drug and weapons charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa says a jury found 42-year-old Oscar Navarro-Zepeda guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Navarro-Zepeda was convicted on the charges following a three and-a-half day jury trial in federal court in Sioux City. Evidence at the trial showed that between April 2021 and April 2023, Navarro-Zepeda was involved in the distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, including more than 50 grams of pure meth.
Evidence also showed that on April 18th, 2023 during a search at his residence in Spencer, law enforcement seized about 33 pounds of methamphetamine, $17,932 in cash, an AR-15 style rifle with two loaded magazines in a rife case, a partial box of ammunition, and items associated with drug distribution and paraphernalia. Federal prosecutors say Navarro-Zepeda was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Sentencing is pending completion of a pre-sentence report. Navarro-Zepeda remains in the custody of a U.S. Marshal in the meantime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of up to 15 years in jail with a possible maximum of life imprisonment.
