Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Amy Parks, 57, and Brandy Binneboese, 44, both from Sioux City, Iowa pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Binneboese pled guilty on June 7, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine. Parks pled guilty on June 27, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearings, Binneboese and Parks admitted their involvement in a conspiracy from January 2021 through June 2023, that distributed over seven pounds of methamphetamine. Evidence showed that on three occasions in 2023, Binneboese and Parks participated in the distribution of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, and on an additional four occasions Parks distributed methamphetamine to that same person. On June 1, 2023, just after one of the meth transactions was completed, Binneboese was stopped by law enforcement and found with two baggies (each containing approximately 8.5 grams methamphetamine) hidden in her bra area and was further found to have $2,500 in pre-serialized buy money that had been used during the drug purchase, moments earlier, in her purse. On June 19, 2023, upon arrest of Parks, law enforcement searched her residence and seized approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine, digital scales, drug use/distribution paraphernalia, cash, and a loaded 9mm firearm. Parks further admitted possessing the handgun in furtherance of her drug trafficking conduct, namely to protect her person and property in connection with her methamphetamine trafficking.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after presentence reports are prepared. Parks remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Binneboese remains (temporarily) on release from custody under the supervision of United States Probation. On the drug conviction, both women face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm conviction, Parks faces an additional mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment (consecutive to any term imposed on the drug conviction) and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and no more than three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4042. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.