Waukon man charged with Federal gun, drug crimes

Chad Root of Waukon, 41, has been charged with possessing firearms as a felon, attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of pseudoephedrine. The charges are contained in a Superseding Indictment filed June 5 in U.S. District Court, Cedar Rapids.
The Superseding Indictment alleges Root possessed 10 different firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number, after having been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including Burglary in the Second Degree, Possession of Burglary Tools, Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree, Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons, Possession of a Firearm as a Felon, and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver. The Superseding Indictment also alleges that, for a period of about one year, Root agreed and conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine, and that Root was attempting to manufacture methamphetamine April 29, 2013. An affidavit filed in the case alleges the firearms were located in Root’s residence during the execution of a search warrant April 29, and that Root was located in the garage with an active “one-pot” methamphetamine lab.
If convicted, Root faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a fine up to $8,000,000, $400 in assessments, and at least eight years and up to a lifetime of supervised release following prison.
Root first appeared April 30 in federal court in Cedar Rapids pursuant to a criminal complaint, and was ordered detained pending trial. Trial is currently set for September 9, 2013. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, Decorah Police Department, Monona Police Department, Waukon Police Department, Postville Police Department, and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office.