Storm Lake, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A Denison man has been sentenced to twenty-five years in prison in a Buena Vista County drug case.
Storm Lake police were investigating suspected trafficker Martin Mancilla-Gomez with the help of an informant. They arrested him in March of 2023 when a K-9 unit reportedly found 443 grams of methamphetamine wrapped in plastic and hidden inside a wet vac in his vehicle. Several drug and weapons charges were filed against Mancilla-Gomez, including possession of a firearm as a prohibited person, but only one count of possession of meth with the intent to deliver went to court.
During the process his lawyers moved to have evidence suppressed at trial, which was denied.
A jury found Mancilla-Gomez, now 58, guilty in July. He appeared before District Court Judge Nancy Whittenberg this week and was given a sentence of up to 25 years in prison with a minimum of four years before being eligible for parole. The case was prosecuted by Buena Vista County Attorney Paul A. Allen representing the State of Iowa.