Muscatine Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

DAVENPORT, IA - On July 24, 2017, United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Aron Gaytan, 22, to 216 months in prison and Patrick Jay Plank, 51, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. On July 25, 2017, Judge Rose sentenced Robert Owen Knapp, 25, to 80 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Each man was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following their imprisonment and to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On February 13, 2017, Knapp pleaded guilty and was found responsible for distributing in excess of 300 grams of ice methamphetamine. Plank pleaded guilty on February 17, 2017, and was found responsible for distributing in excess of one kilogram of ice methamphetamine. On February 22, 2017, Gaytan pleaded guilty and was found responsible for distributing eight kilograms of ice methamphetamine.

The charges resulted from an investigation and the execution of multiple search warrants in Muscatine and Johnson Counties. Law enforcement seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of ice methamphetamine, approximately 2.5 kilograms of marijuana, approximately 27 grams of cocaine, 28 firearms, and $5,184 during the searches.

The Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Muscatine Police Department and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.