Iowa Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Crime

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Stephen Ismael Monarrez, 45, of Carrol, Iowa, was sentenced on March 13, 2024 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for distributing methamphetamine.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Monarrez to 120 months’ imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  After Monarrez’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On June 8, 2022, an ATF confidential source (CS) arranged to purchase meth from Monarrez.  The CS was shown a photo of Monarrez, that they identified as the person who agreed to sell 4oz of meth for $1,200.00 dollars.

The CS went to the prearranged meet location in Omaha equipped with audio/video equipment. The CS parked on the east side of the street and Monarrez, identified by surveillance, entered the passenger side of the CS’s vehicle where the controlled buy occurred.  A forensic lab determined the methamphetamine to be 94% pure. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.