A George, Iowa man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for his involvement in methamphetamine trafficking. John Rothkehl, Jr., 40, received a sentence of 130 months after pleading guilty on April 11, 2025.
Court documents revealed that between January 2022 and October 2024, Rothkehl conspired with others to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In September 2024, he sold methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement. The following month, police stopped a vehicle in which Rothkehl was a passenger; a K-9 unit detected drugs, leading officers to find over 35 grams of pure methamphetamine in the backseat near Rothkehl. He admitted he intended to distribute the drugs further and was arrested after also admitting to hiding a fentanyl pill in his underwear.
Authorities said Rothkehl traveled to Spencer, Iowa and South Sioux City, Nebraska to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in the George area.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand handed down the sentence on August 21, 2025 in Sioux City. Alongside his prison term, Rothkehl will serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence. There is no parole available under the federal system.
Rothkehl remains in U.S. Marshal’s custody pending transfer to a federal prison.
