Drugs and Guns Crimes Send North Iowa Man to Federal Prison

Drugs and guns are sending a North Iowa man to federal prison.

47-year-old Andrew Lofton of Mason City pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Four counts of possession of meth with intent to distribute were dropped as part of a plea deal.

Lofton was arrested after a search of his home in April 2023 turned up two handguns with obliterated serial numbers. Also recovered was a backpack hanging outside Lofton’s bedroom window containing another handgun and almost two dozen ounce-sized bags of meth.

Investigators say Lofton helped sell methamphetamine between January 2023 and his arrest.

Lofton has been sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.  

The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.