A Marion, Iowa man has been sentenced to more than ten years in federal prison for distributing ice methamphetamine. Robert Owen Bell, 48, pleaded guilty on February 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court documents, Bell and another individual conspired throughout 2023 to distribute over 1.5 kilograms of ice methamphetamine in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Law enforcement used a confidential source to make two controlled purchases from Bell totaling more than 100 grams of the drug. On November 14, 2023, officers observed Bell traveling between his residence and that of his co-conspirator before conducting a traffic stop. During the search of Bell’s vehicle, officers seized approximately 65.64 grams of ice methamphetamine.
Bell was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids to 130 months in prison and will serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
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