Hawkeye Reporter

Jacob Shafer, a 34-year-old resident of Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced on September 12, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. He received an 11-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm.

Shafer had prior convictions from March 2022 in Iowa for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and trafficking in stolen weapons. These previous offenses made it illegal for him to possess any firearms.

During the execution of a search warrant at Shafer’s home in March 2024, law enforcement officers found four bags of methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia such as pipes, bongs, grinders, baggies, and a digital scale. Authorities also seized ninety-six .380 caliber Winchester rounds of ammunition; a Ruger LCP .380 pistol with six rounds (including one chambered); a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol with thirteen rounds; an Intratec AB-10 9mm pistol with twenty-two rounds in the magazine; and a Rock Island Armory .45 caliber pistol. According to the evidence presented at the hearings, Shafer admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine discovered by officers.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021. The strategy focuses on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it occurs, prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts, and measuring outcomes.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand presided over sentencing. In addition to his prison term of 132 months (11 years), Shafer will serve four years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole available in the federal system. Shafer remains in custody pending transfer to a federal prison.