Mason City brothers receive long sentences on federal meth dealing charges

SIOUX CITY — Brothers from Mason City have been sentenced to over 20 years in prison on federal methamphetamine dealing charges.

58-year-old Bradley Winters pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of meth, and had 33 prior criminal convictions, including a 2009 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute meth and distribution of meth.

63-year-old Gary Winters pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. He also had been previously convicted of a serious drug felony in 2010.

The US Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa’s office says between July and August 2023, both men were part of an ongoing meth distribution conspiracy based in Mason City. They say Bradley Winters sold meth to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.

Gary Winters was serving a term of supervised release for his 2010 drug conviction when he was involved in the conspiracy, including his possession of over 180 grams of meth when he was stopped by law enforcement.

While on pre-trial release, Bradley Winters failed to appear in court in July 2024, and it was later discovered he cut off his GPS ankle monitor. He was arrested a week later in Clear Lake where he fought with officers and was found to be in possession of several baggies of meth.

Gary Winters was sentenced to 25 years in prison back in January, while Bradley Winters was sentenced on Friday to 20 years in prison. They both must serve a ten-year term of supervised release after their prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.