COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Officials with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Wednesday (today), announced three sentences for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine were imposed Tuesday: 35-year old Joseph A. Brown, of Omaha, was sentenced to ten years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release; 31-year old Christopher M. Rouse, of Omaha, was sentenced to twenty years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release; and, 28-year old Bernave Navarrete, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to twenty years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Their convictions were the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force into methamphetamine trafficking in Western Iowa. The investigation revealed that methamphetamine was being brought into the Omaha, Nebraska, area from Mexico, and then transported to various locations in Nebraska and Western Iowa for distribution.

As part of the investigation, the following individuals were previously sentenced to prison: Jackie Thielen, ten years; Brandy Kumpula, eight years; Chase Richard, fifteen years; Jessica Snavely, ten years; and William LaBenz, five years. The sentencing hearings for Omar Martinez, Laura Rausch-Anderson, Colby Dunn and Manda May Rowell are still pending.

The matter was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harlan, Iowa Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Io