Jury Finds Sioux City Man Guilty to Meth Charges
Lapointe led police on a high-speed chase and instructed a passenger to throw meth from the vehicle.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa-- A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury April 29, 2026, after a 2-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Shelton Lapointe, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting another to do so. The verdict was returned following roughly three hours of jury deliberations. Lapointe had been convicted twice previously in Woodbury County Iowa District Court for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, in 2018 and again in 2022.
The evidence at trial showed that on July 17, 2024, agents were conducting surveillance at WinnaVegas Casino during which a vehicle was observed traveling away from the casino over the speed limit. Law enforcement attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which took off at speeds ranging from 100 to 140 mph, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. During the flight, two packages of methamphetamine were thrown out the passenger window. The methamphetamine thrown from the car, approximately ½ pound, was located and seized by law enforcement. Lapointe, who was driving the vehicle, handed his co-conspirator the methamphetamine and instructed him to throw it out the window in an attempt to avoid apprehension with the methamphetamine in their possession. Five co-conspirators also testified to their involvement with Lapointe in multiple-pound methamphetamine trafficking for several months from about 2022 through July 2024.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lapointe was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Lapointe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde.
