A man who conspired to distribute crack cocaine was sentenced January 13, 2012, to 14 years in federal prison.

Stephen Shine, 43, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 29, 2011, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and distributing crack cocaine. Shine was previously convicted of two felony drug convictions, including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, on September 17, 1992, and July 24, 2002.

At the guilty plea, Shine admitted conspiring with others to distribute more than 200 grams of crack cocaine in the Sioux City area from October 2010 through January 2011. Shine also admitted that on three separate occasions in April, June, and October 2010, he distributed crack cocaine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. One of the distributions occurred within 1000 feet of Leif Erikson Park in Sioux City.

Shine was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Shine was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. Shine must also serve a consecutive term of 12 months’ imprisonment for a revocation of supervised release violation. A special assessment of $200 was imposed. He must also serve a 12-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Shine is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, which consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR11-4014.

 

 

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