North Iowa Woman Headed to Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to Meth Conspiracy Charge

A north Iowa woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pleaded guilty Tuesday (12.16) in federal court in Sioux City.

 At the plea hearing, 36-year-old Cori Benson of Mason City admitted that, from August 2024 through October 2024, she and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine.  In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Benson was driving and found over a half-pound of pure meth in her purse, plus two firearms in the vehicle.  

Investigators say Benson admitted that she and another subject transported about one kilogram of meth from Des Moines to Pierre, South Dakota, for distribution. 

 Benson has been convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute meth and her

sentencing, in United States District Court, will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Until then, she remains in custody of the United States Marshal.  

Benson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to a possible maximum sentence of life in federal prison, plus a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any federal prison term.

The case investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City,  consisting of law enforcement personnel from the DEA; Homeland Security; Sioux City and South Sioux City, Nebraska, police departments; the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; U.S. Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.