–A Belmond man has been given a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of distributing methamphetamine earlier this year.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, 29-year-old Rafael Perez-Mercado pled guilty in April to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings show between September and late October of 2020, Perez-Mercado and others were responsible for the distribution of over 10-pounds of Methamphetamine in the Wright County area.
On October 8th of last year, Law Enforcement intercepted a package destined for Perez-Mercado coming from Mexico, which contained 2-pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside. Later that month, Law Enforcement officials used a confidential informant to make a controlled delivery of the package to Perez-Mercado at his home.
During the deliver, Law Enforcement officials captured Perez-Mercado exiting the rear door of the residence, and found 9 packages containing methamphetamine inside a bag he was carrying.
Perez-Mercado was sentenced Monday to 120 months in Federal prison and 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. He remains in the custody of US Marshall’s until he can be transported to a federal facility.
