(Sioux City)– A Wallingford man has been sentenced in federal court on meth charges.
42-year-old Todd Behrends was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison Tuesday after pleading guilty last April to one count of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, distributing pseudoephedrine, possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute.
Court officials say Behrends had also been previously convicted of another felony drug offense.
At a plea hearing, Behrends admitted that from June 2003 through November 10th, 2008 in the lakes area he and others manufactured and distributed meth, possessed and distributed pseudoephedrine and possessed marijuana with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Behrends and two others were arrested in Omaha on August 12th, 2005 for possession of methamphetamine, lithium batteries, a large amount of pseudoephedrine pills and drug paraphernalia. That resulted in a felony conviction in Nebraska District Court for possession of methamphetamine.
Court documents go on to say that one April 24th, 2008 in Osceola county Behrends had over four and-a-half pounds of marijuana which was seized from his vehicle after a state trooper pulled him over. Behrends however escaped in another car, nearly running over the trooper in the process.
Behrends was arrested November 10th, 2008 in Omaha. Authorities say he was in possession of a nine millimeter handgun at the time.
In addition to the 22-year prison term, Behrends must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the term. There is no parole in the federal system.
