A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty November 4, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Sean Paxson, 57, from Clare, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, Paxson admitted that from July 2024 through July 2026, he and others conspired to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, including at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine, in the Fort Dodge area. In May 2026, law enforcement, using informants, made five controlled drug buys of methamphetamine from Paxson totaling more than 180 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Paxson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Paxson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $15,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Webster County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 26-3034. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.