Hawkeye Reporter

A man from Reinbeck, Iowa, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Austin David Hansen, aged 39, was sentenced on June 23, 2025, following his guilty plea on December 23, 2024. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having a prior serious drug felony conviction.

The case details reveal that from December 2023 to May 22, 2024, Hansen collaborated with a California-based supplier he met in federal prison. They shipped methamphetamine and marijuana via mail to post office boxes in Reinbeck, Dike, and Waterloo, Iowa. Once the packages arrived at these locations, Hansen worked with others to distribute the drugs across the Northern District of Iowa. In return for the drugs received from California, Hansen sent over $260,000 in proceeds back to his supplier.

During the investigation into this operation, law enforcement intercepted a package containing over 5,000 grams of methamphetamine destined for one of these post office boxes. On May 22, 2024, multiple search warrants were executed as part of the investigation. At Hansen's residence alone, officers seized more than 600 grams of methamphetamine along with a firearm and over $12,000 in cash.

Hansen had previously served time for a federal drug trafficking crime after being convicted and sentenced in November 2011.

United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams presided over Hansen's sentencing in Cedar Rapids. Alongside his prison term of 240 months' imprisonment without parole under the federal system guidelines—Hansen will also serve an additional ten-year supervised release period upon completing his sentence.

Currently held by U.S Marshals awaiting transport to federal prison facilities—the prosecution team led by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards saw assistance through investigations conducted by various agencies including: United States Postal Service; Federal Bureau Investigations (FBI); Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force involving Waterloo Police Department alongside Cedar Falls Police Department among others; Iowa Division Narcotics Enforcement unit coupled with Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives agents working together alongside Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force members plus Grundy County Sheriff’s Office personnel too—all joining forces during this extensive probe against illegal narcotic activities originating from Santa Ana-based networks within Californian jurisdictions as well.