A Fort Dodge man has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving methamphetamine and cocaine. Matthew Groat, 41, entered his plea on January 6, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
According to court documents, Groat admitted that between August and November 2025, he and others distributed over 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine in the Fort Dodge area. He also acknowledged distributing approximately 10 grams of cocaine on two occasions in September 2025 to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Additionally, Groat distributed more than 130 grams of pure methamphetamine on two occasions in September and three times in October 2025. He further admitted to obtaining between five and ten pounds of methamphetamine from a local source during the four-month conspiracy period and selling it locally.
Sentencing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence report. United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will preside over the sentencing hearing. Groat is currently held by the United States Marshal while awaiting sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, with a possible maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any prison term.
