Sioux City, IA (KICD)--An Emmetsburg man pleads guilty to a federal meth conspiracy charge.

49-year-old John Gagen on Wednesday in Sioux City federal court admitted to his involvement in a conspiracy from about 2009 through April 2011 that distributed at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Gagen also admitted to purchasing approximately 3.52 grams of crystal methamphetamine from a Ronald Walstrom,  which law enforcement later seized from Gagen after observing Gagen travel to/from Walstrom’s residence.

Gagen was convicted twice previously within the last fifteen years for felony controlled substance violations, once in Minnesota and once in Colorado. Gagen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Agencies assisting include the  Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, Emmetsburg Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.