Rockwell man pleads guilty to federal meth dealing charge

SIOUX CITY — A Rockwell man has pleaded guilty to a federal methamphetamine distribution charge.

The US Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa’s office says 36-year-old Dustin Burkhardt pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Sioux City to possession with the intent to distribute meth.

Burkhardt was pulled over for numerous traffic violations shortly after midnight on September 29th of last year on State Highway 122 near the Mason City Municipal Airport, where during a search of the vehicle, 137.12 grams of meth was located in a backpack, a meth pipe was located in the center console, and a knife with a blade over eight inches was also located in the backpack.

Burkhardt admitted that all of the meth seized belonged to him and he intended to distribute some or all of it to another person or persons.

When sentenced at a later date, Burkhardt faces between ten years and life in prison as well as a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.