Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm Convictions Following a Hit and Run Accident

 Was on Federal Supervised Release for Two Prior Offenses

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, on September 2, 2021.  

Daniel Moss, age 45, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on April 19, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm.  Previously, in 2009, Moss was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine within a protected location, and employment or use of a person under 18 to assist in conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. While on supervised release for the 2009 offense, Moss was convicted of escape from custody in 2017.

Evidence at hearings in the case showed that from June 2020 through July 5, 2020, while on federal supervised release, Moss conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to others in the Fort Dodge area.  On July 5, 2020, Moss was involved in a hit and run accident with another vehicle.  After he fled the scene, Fort Dodge police officers pursued Moss and ultimately caught him that same day, at which time Moss picked up a police officer and a loaded firearm fell from his waistband. The firearm was later determined to be stolen.  Moss also had approximately $17,000 cash during the incident, drug paraphernalia, baggies with residue, and over 50 grams pure methamphetamine.  Moss was previously convicted of a felony offense, and was a drug user, which prohibited him from possessing a gun.   

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Moss was sentenced to 196 months’ total imprisonment consisting of 150 months for the new offense and an additional 46 months for violating his supervised release.  Additionally, Moss must serve a seven-year term of supervised release following imprisonment.

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.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.