A Burlington man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Robert Gantz, 39, was identified as a source of methamphetamine in southeast Iowa. Officers purchased methamphetamine from Gantz with the use of a confidential source. In a subsequent search of a vehicle occupied by Gantz, officers located a handgun, with an obliterated serial number, two loaded magazines, methamphetamine, marijuana, and other items indicative of drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, Gantz admitted to being involved in the distribution of methamphetamine. Gantz was also under supervision for a prior state drug conviction at the time of his arrest.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gantz will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Narcotics Task Force and Burlington Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
***Courtesy of the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa***
