Waterloo Woman Sentenced to 20 years in Federal Prison in Meth Conspiracy Case

WATERLOO, Iowa — A Waterloo woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine in the Cedar Valley has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Michelle Bruno, 51, of Waterloo, was sentenced Feb. 4, 2026, after pleading guilty on Aug. 7, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, according to information presented at the sentencing hearing.

Investigators with the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted a controlled delivery of methamphetamine to Bruno in May 2024, evidence showed. After that delivery, Bruno was found in possession of four pounds of methamphetamine and an additional two ounces, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Bruno had received about 12 pounds of methamphetamine over several months from a source of supply and sent more than $25,000 to that person. Investigators later contacted Bruno again, and she admitted to obtaining another kilogram of methamphetamine, according to court testimony. She also said she paid more than $5,000 to her supplier to satisfy a debt.

Bruno was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by U.S. District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not include parole.

Bruno remains in U.S. Marshals custody until she is transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and multiple state and local agencies, including the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force. The task force includes the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hudson.