(Sioux City)—A Spirit Lake man has pleaded guilty in U-S District Court to manufacturing and attempting to manufacture more than five grams of pure methamphetamine in a room at a lakes area resort.
42-year-old Matthew Sheridan entered the plea today (Fri.) in federal court in Sioux City.
Court documents say it stems from July 20th of last year when Sheridan’s nephew, who was working as a security guard at a local resort, entered a room Sheridan had been staying in and noticed a strong chemical smell. The guard notified two other employees of the resort that he had discovered his uncle manufacturing methamphetamine, and called law enforcement.
Upon arriving, Sheridan tried to hide from officers. Sheridan then placed his hands under a pillow. Upon removing them after being told to do so, officers discovered a tray with a burnt piece of aluminum foil on it, some white powder and a snort tube under the pillow.
The documents go on to say that Sheridan told officers two baggies that were also found each contained about three and-a-half grams of methamphetamine he had purchased from a man he wouldn’t name.
Sheridan also stated he was using the room to manufacture meth just before officers arrived and that a vehicle parked in front of the room belonged to him.
A subsequent search of the room and Sheridan’s vehicle turned up chemicals, tubing, containers, about 27 grams of marijuana, a bag of about 5.84 grams of methamphetamine; another bag with about 6.74 grams of meth; several unused baggies and a shotgun shell.
A subsequent investigation revealed Sheridan had acquired over one thousand pseudoephedrine pills to produce more than 57 grams of pure methamphetamine. Investigators say Sheridan used military identity cards belonging to two other men to acquire the pills.
Sentencing for Sheridan is set for January 10th, 2008 in Sioux City. He is currently free on bond.
Sheridan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a two million dollar fine and a term of between four years and up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
