Man pleads guilty to Crawford County meth charge

9:42 PM
By Molly Montag Journal staff writer

SIOUX CITY -- Authorities say a Mexican man living in northwest Iowa pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute about a half-pound of methamphetamine in Crawford County.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Samuel Octavio Mar-Betancourt, 27, of Mexico, faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced in federal court.

Mar-Bentancourt pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and for illegally re-entering the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mar-Bentancourt was arrested Jan. 4 in Shelby County, Iowa, with approximately a half pound of methamphetamine in his possession. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated Bentancourt and others distributed about two pounds of methamphetamine in Crawford and Shelby counties from January 2007-08.

He was found on Sept. 5, 2007, to be in the United States illegally.

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