Keota man sentenced on meth charges

A Keota man has been sentenced to 60 months? imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The man is Nathan Trier, age 37. He was handed the sentence Friday.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, Trier was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his imprisonment and pay $200 to the Crime Victims Fund.

In March, Trier pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute at least 5 grams of actual methamphetamine from June 2008 through July 13, 2010, and for possessing a firearm as a felon.

In the summer of 2009, law enforcement commenced an investigation into a group of individuals responsible for cooking large amounts of methamphetamine at a farm located in Wellman. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned that Trier was responsible for providing pseudoephedrine pills for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Trier was ultimately responsible for the manufacture of up to 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Law enforcement also discovered a loaded Springfield Armory XD-40 Tactical .40 caliber pistol at a residence maintained by Trier. Trier is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a convicted felon.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney?s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and investigated by the Washington County Drug Task Force, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement and the Keota Police Department.