Meth Lab Fire Sends Dubuque Man To Federal Prison

A man who started a fire while trying to manufacture methamphetamine was sentenced on January 13, 2014 to 19 ½ years in federal prison.

Cory Cole, 47, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 9, 2013 guilty plea to the attempted manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.  

Information disclosed at the guilty plea and sentencing indicates that Cole admitted he attempted to cook methamphetamine on May 30, 2013, at a Dubuque residence.  The methamphetamine lab caused a fire to erupt in the house.  Two other individuals—neither of whom were involved in the methamphetamine activity—were present inside the residence.  The residence was located within 1,000 feet of Fulton Elementary School. 

Cole was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Cole was sentenced to 234 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Cole 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 Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Dubuque Fire Department. 

            Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-1015.