Carroll, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm Convictions

Augustus had a burglary conviction prior to being caught selling meth and possessing a gun.

A man who conspired to distribute meth while possessing a gun was sentenced May 19, 2020, to more than 8 years in federal prison.

Nicholaus Augustus, 28, from Carroll, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  In 2015, Augustus was convicted of burglary 3rd degree, in the Iowa District Court for Carroll County.  The conviction prohibited Augustus from legally possessing a firearm in Iowa.

At the guilty plea, Augustus admitted that from about October 2017 and continuing to on or about August 29, 2018, he and others conspired to distribute more than 35 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Carroll, Iowa area.  In January 2018, Augustus distributed more than 4 grams of meth to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.  In August of 2018, Augustus’ residence was searched as part of a burglary investigation, and law enforcement seized a gun, along with drug paraphernalia and 9mm ammunition.

Augustus was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Augustus was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Augustus is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

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.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1217186/download.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigations, Carroll, Iowa Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.