California Man Sentenced for Iowa Methamphetamine Conspiracy

 Caught in Wyoming transporting 10 pounds of meth to Iowa

A California man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Iowa was sentenced on January 26, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

Gabriel Mata-Becerra, 27, from Hayward, California, pled guilty on September 17, 2020, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, Mata-Becerra admitted that beginning on or about March 2019 and continuing to on or about May 2019, he and others had an agreement to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.  While acting in furtherance of that agreement, on or about April 21, 2019, Mata-Becerra was traffic stopped in Wyoming and law enforcement seized approximately ten pounds of ice methamphetamine from inside an unconnected speaker box in the trunk of his vehicle.  Mata-Becerra further admitted that he had acquired the methamphetamine in California and was traveling from California to Hawarden, Iowa to deliver the methamphetamine to another person.

Mata-Becerra was sentenced before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Mata-Becerra was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3 year term of supervised release following any imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Mata-Becerra 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 Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office; the Wyoming State Patrol; and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations.