Richard D. Westphal, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa
Richard D. Westphal, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa
Two Muscatine men have been sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun crimes related to an officer-involved shooting in Muscatine, Iowa, on May 29, 2024. Juan Aldo Beltran Delgado, 34, and Isidro Barajas Jr., 30, were sentenced on July 22, 2025.
Court documents reveal that on the day of the incident, Beltran Delgado and Barajas went to a residence in Muscatine expecting a package containing over 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine. When law enforcement attempted to stop their vehicle after they picked up the package, Beltran Delgado drove at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour through Muscatine and ran multiple red lights before crashing into two vehicles near Highway 61 and Cedar Street. Both men fled on foot with firearms. Officers apprehended them after Beltran Delgado fired shots at police.
Beltran Delgado received a sentence of 35 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and carrying and discharging a firearm during drug trafficking. Barajas was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for similar charges along with being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal announced the sentences. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Scott County Sheriff's Office, Muscatine Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff's Office, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities and strategic enforcement priorities.
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