A 37-year-old Mason City man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
Justin Zobel was sentenced Tuesday in Sioux City to 225 months in prison after pleading guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence also includes five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, Zobel was involved in an ongoing drug trafficking operation based in Mason City between February 2023 and February 2024. Investigators documented multiple instances of drug activity, including sales of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.
Authorities say Zobel has a lengthy criminal history and resumed distributing methamphetamine shortly after being released from custody on a prior conviction. His record includes offenses such as theft, burglary, assault, and prior drug-related crimes.
The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
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