Iowa Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Crime

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux City, Iowa, woman convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on July 29, 2024.

Sara Raquel Torres, age 38, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Torres was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. She pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 11, 2023, when Torres began communicating with someone who Torres thought was interested in buying methamphetamine from her, but turned out to be an undercover law enforcement agent. Torres set up a deal to sell one to two pounds of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. On her way to make the deal, Torres was stopped by the South Dakota Highway Patrol who, after searching her vehicle, found approximately 943 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Torres was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.