Des Moines, IA – An Iowa City man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple drug trafficking offenses involving methamphetamine and cocaine, according to state officials.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Richard Allen Tuan Casey, 37, was sentenced earlier this month to 235 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Court documents state Casey sold controlled substances between early 2024 and May 2025. Investigators alleged that two days before his arrest, Casey traveled to a Walmart parking lot in Ames to pick up 30 pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for more than $70,000.
Authorities said law enforcement had been conducting an investigation that included multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine by a confidential informant before Casey’s arrest.
During a search of Casey’s property, investigators recovered 22 pounds of the 30 pounds of methamphetamine allegedly obtained days earlier, along with a loaded pistol, cocaine, drug packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia, according to officials.
After completing his prison sentence, Casey will be required to serve five years of supervised release. Federal officials noted there is no parole in the federal prison system.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety credited the Johnson County Drug Task Force, including Division of Narcotics Enforcement personnel, for their work on the investigation.
