Traffic Stop Leads to Man Pleading Guilty to Meth Charges

 Naberhaus, who was convicted of conspiring to distribute meth in 2000, was caught again with nearly a half-pound of meth in his car.

A man who possessed nearly a half-pound of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute pled guilty June 22, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

David Naberhaus, 57, Deloit, Iowa, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  In 2000, Naberhaus was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on November 18, 2020, Naberhaus was stopped by law enforcement for traffic violations in Woodbury County, Iowa. Due to Naberhaus’ nervous behavior, a K-9 was deployed and indicated the presence of controlled substances from within the car.  Law enforcement then searched the car and discovered 222 grams (nearly a half-pound) of pure methamphetamine in 5 separate baggies, 12 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of cocaine, and $6,501 in 4 bundles.  On February 15, 2021, while on routine patrol, Iowa State Patrol noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 20.  A check of the license of the registered owner revealed the owner to be Naberhaus, who had a federal warrant for his arrest.  A later search of Naberhaus’ car revealed bags of meth, bags of marijuana, lidocaine patches, a pipe a lighter, and Ziploc baggies.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Naberhaus remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Naberhaus faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Ida County Sheriff’s Department, Sioux City Police Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.