Rivas Martinez

CEDAR RAPIDS — On Thursday, a Marshalltown man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison.

Juan Eduardo Rivas Martinez, age 25, received the prison term after a January 12, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, according to a press release issued Friday.

Information at the sentencing hearing showed that on June 11, 2024, Martinez distributed over 450 grams of ice methamphetamine to a confidential informant. After that transaction, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Martinez, but he fled from the officers on a bicycle. Martinez crashed the bicycle he was riding and continued to flee on foot.

When officers caught Martinez, he had over $1,000 in his possession. As Martinez was fleeing, he threw a bag to the ground. Officers found and searched the bag and found over 440 grams of ice methamphetamine inside.

Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams to 97 months imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.