Two Council Bluffs Residents Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to count one of a three-count indictment. His co-defendant was sentenced on December 11, 2023, to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of a three-count indictment.

According to public court documents Diana Morales, 30, was a drug supplier to co-defendant Donavan Edward Belt, 25, who distributed methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. In February 2023 law enforcement completed a controlled buy at the residence of Morales and Belt resulting in the seizure of 112.97 grams of actual methamphetamine. A subsequent search warrant resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine.

Belt must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Morales must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.