Wayne Johnson, 43, of Charter Oak, Iowa, pleaded guilty on November 5, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution and aiding and abetting another in the distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location, the U.S. Department of Justice reported.
Conspiracy Spanned 19 Months and 2,500 Grams of Meth
At the plea hearing, Johnson admitted that from September 2024 through April 2026 he took part in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2,500 grams of methamphetamine in the Charter Oak and Crawford County areas. On two occasions in January and February 2026, Johnson and another person distributed methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, and both transactions occurred within 1,000 feet of Charter Oak-Ute Community School in Charter Oak.
Sentencing Faces 10-Year Minimum, Possible Life Term
Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a possible maximum of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release after any prison term. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be scheduled after a presentence report is prepared, and Johnson remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Multi-Agency Investigation Led to Case 26-4016
Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory. The case file number is 26-4016.
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