Sioux City, IA (KICD)– A Minnesota man convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm will spend more than two decades in federal prison.

32-year-old Shawn Gaston of Fairmont pled guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm as a prohibited person and possession of a firearm for drug trafficking.

Evidence provided in court included Gaston admitting that he was part of a conspiracy to distribute more than 27 pounds of the drug across three states when he was arrested in October 2021 following a lengthy pursuit that began in Clay County and ultimately ended in Dickinson County when his vehicle entered a creek. The drugs and firearms were reportedly discovered a short distance from the crash scene by police.

Gaston was given 295 months in prison on Friday and will be required to serve five years on supervised release following his time behind bars.