Nichole Marie Schmidt, a 43-year-old resident of Galesburg, Illinois, has been sentenced to more than 25 years in federal prison for her involvement in a drug distribution operation in Iowa.
Schmidt pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025, to charges of conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Evidence presented at sentencing indicated that from February to September 2024, Schmidt obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from a supplier in Chicago and distributed the drugs to individuals in Iowa for further redistribution.
In September 2024, Schmidt met her ex-husband in Davenport, Iowa. She rented a car which her ex-husband then drove to Chicago to collect drugs and a firearm for Schmidt and another co-conspirator. After returning to Davenport, he handed over the items. Law enforcement later stopped the vehicle driven by Schmidt with her co-conspirator as passenger. A search uncovered about 12 pounds of pure methamphetamine along with oxycodone, LSD, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded gun. Schmidt admitted she intended to distribute these substances throughout Iowa.
The court determined that the total amount involved in the conspiracy was over nine million kilograms in converted drug weight, including more than 450 kilograms of pure methamphetamine—a quantity described by the judge as “astronomical.”
Schmidt has two previous felony drug convictions. One includes a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Schmidt in Cedar Rapids to 304 months (over 25 years) imprisonment and ordered five years of supervised release following her sentence. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and Dubuque Police Department.
