Northwest Iowa Trio Sent To Federal Prison For Methamphetamine Conspiracy

Three people who were part of a methamphetamine manufacturing ring operating in northwestern Iowa were sentenced to a combined 26 years in federal prison. 

Chad Root, 42, from Waukon, Iowa, Enrique Manzo, 37, from Fredericksburg, Iowa, and Jessica Manzo, 31, from Fredericksburg, Iowa, received the prison terms after separate guilty pleas.  Root pled guilty on August 19, 2013 to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine after a prior drug felony conviction, and possession of firearms as a felon.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo each pled guilty on October 4, 2013 to conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Court records, along with information disclosed at their guilty plea and sentencing hearings, indicate that Root admitted he and others agreed to manufacture methamphetamine between April 2012 and April 2013.  Root also admitted he possessed ten firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number.  Root has multiple prior felony convictions.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo each admitted that, over approximately the same time period, they obtained pseudoephedrine from other people and provided it for the manufacture of methamphetamine. 

All three individuals were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Enrique Manzo was sentenced on November 26, 2013 to 100 months’ imprisonment.  Jessica Manzo was sentenced on January 6, 2014 to 81 months’ imprisonment.  Root was sentenced on January 7, 2014 to 141 months’ imprisonment.  Each was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo must each serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  Root is required to serve an 8-year term of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

All three are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Decorah Police Department, the Monona Police Department, the Waukon Police Department, the Postville Police Department, and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number for Chad Root is 13-CR-1007.  The case file number for Enrique and Jessica Manzo is 13-CR-2019.