COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A man from Page County was sentenced to prison Thursday, for Possession with the Intent to Distribute a controlled substance. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 49-year-old Michael Leo Pickens, of Shambaugh, was sentenced to 60 months (5-years) in prison, following his plea of guilty to the charge. Pickens must serve a four-year term of supervised release following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to public court documents, from June 2022 to July 2022, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) completed several controlled buys of methamphetamine with Michael Leo Pickens. In August 2022, a search warrant was executed by DNE on Pickens’ residence in Shambaugh. Agents recovered approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine and a scale from the residence.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.