Hawkeye Reporter

Richard Martinez, a 30-year-old resident of Sioux City, Iowa, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2025, in federal court to charges related to methamphetamine distribution.

According to evidence presented at the plea hearing, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino near Sloan, Iowa, on July 17, 2024. Officers observed a vehicle leaving the casino at a speed above the legal limit. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled at high speed. During the chase, two packages containing methamphetamine were thrown from the passenger window. Authorities recovered about half a pound of methamphetamine near where it was discarded.

Martinez admitted that during the pursuit, the driver handed him the methamphetamine and told him to throw it out of the window. He complied with this instruction.

Sentencing for Martinez will be scheduled after a presentence report is completed. He is currently held by the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could receive up to forty years’ imprisonment. He also faces a potential fine of $5 million and supervised release ranging from four years to life following any prison term.