Selling Two Pounds of Methamphetamine Results in Over a Dozen Years in Federal Prison

Worked with a Source of Methamphetamine While That Source was in Jail

A man who sold at least two pounds of meth was sentenced July 8, 2020, to more than twelve years in federal prison.

Paul Gensley, age 52, from Victor, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 2, 2019 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute drugs.  In a plea agreement, Gensley admitted he agreed to work with at least one other person to distribute drugs in northern Iowa.  Testimony during previous hearings in the case showed that Gensley’s source of meth was arrested and jailed, but continued to participate in the conspiracy.  While in jail, the source provided a pound of meth to Gensley.  Gensley was captured on jail phone recordings talking to his source and later sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant.  Evidence showed Gensley sold at least two pounds of meth overall and provided a gun to another participant in the conspiracy.  Gensley has multiple previous felony convictions involving stolen property.  Law enforcement recently recovered a stolen motorcycle and golf cart from his house.

Gensley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Gensley was sentenced to 150 months’ and 20 days imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Gensley is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office.