COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 41-year old Robert Matthew Justice, of Glenwood, was sentenced last week to 156 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and his co-defendant, 44-year old Stacey Madonna Morrison, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 61 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

The sentencing was the result of an investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force into methamphetamine trafficking
in Western Iowa and the Omaha Metro Area. The investigation revealed that methamphetamine was being brought into Western Iowa by Justice, who then provided it to Morrison and others for distribution in Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont Counties. In March of 2020, Justice and Morrison entered guilty pleas to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced last week, two individuals were sentenced to prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. 43-year old Erik M. Barber, of Council Bluffs, and 36-year old Lacey Jo Smalley, of Clarinda, were sentenced to prison for 18 years and 16 years, respectively. Previously, the Court sentenced the leader of the conspiracy, Jason Paul Rodriguez, to 30 years in prison on March 12, 2020.

Authorities say Rodriguez organized and led the large-scale drug trafficking operation from 2016 until his arrest in April 2019. Rodriguez and his co-conspirators distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine in Omaha and Western Iowa. Barber was a major distributor of methamphetamine for Rodriguez.    Smalley was also one of Rodriguez’s primary distributors.

The sentencings were the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement originating in Page County regarding distribution of methamphetamine delivered
from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez, Barber, Smalley, and others were distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in numerous locations throughout Southwest Iowa and Omaha.

This matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Clarinda Police
Department, Page County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

A man from Adams County was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, Monday morning. Creston Police report 51-year old Darryn Dugan, of Nodaway, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was subsequently released from the jail on a $300 bond.