United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - A man who possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison.

Alfredo Soberanes, 31, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

In a plea agreement, Soberanes admitted that around midnight on August 31, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on his vehicle but he drove away as officers approached.  Law enforcement did not pursue the vehicle but went to the address in Sioux City associated with the vehicle registration.  Law enforcement were given permission to search the residence where they located Soberanes hiding in the basement.  Found in Soberanes’ possession at arrest was methamphetamine, a stolen firearm, a digital scale, and over 2,500 pills marked “M-30” which contained fentanyl.  For possessing the methamphetamine, defendant was charged by the State and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment but ultimately served a total of 620 days before he was federally indicted for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl. 

Soberanes was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Soberanes was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment but was given credit for 620 days he had served on the related State conviction. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Sioux City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood.