COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Cass County (IA) woman, 34-year-old Amanda Marie Belnap, of Atlantic, was sentenced Monday (Feb. 14) to 120 months (10-years) in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Her term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents Belnap pleaded guilty to the charge on September 2, 2021.

Between July 2020 and May 2021, Belnap obtained approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine at her home in Atlantic from a source in California through the mail. On May 6, 2021, in an interview with law enforcement, Belnap admitted she had received and distributed the methamphetamine. On May 8, 2021, the United States Postal Service intercepted another package mailed to Belnap from her source in California that contained approximately 900 grams of methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, Belnap distributed the methamphetamine to people in locations across the Southern and Northern Districts of Iowa and would send money back to the source in California.

Amanda Marie Belnap

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Tri County Drug Task Force, and the Iowa State Patrol investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.