Marion man sentenced to over 10 years for distributing ice methamphetamine

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Marion man who distributed ice methamphetamine in Cedar Rapids and Marion was sentenced last week to more than 10 years in federal prison.

Robert Owen Bell, 48, pleaded guilty Feb. 11 to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. According to a plea agreement, he conspired with another person to distribute ice meth in Cedar Rapids and Marion throughout 2023.

During an investigation, law enforcement used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of ice meth from Bell in October 2023 for a total of over 100 grams of the drug. On Nov. 14, 2023, officers observed Bell driving to his co-conspirator’s residence and initiated a traffic stop on Bell’s vehicle when he left the home. Officers searched the vehicle after a K-9 unit detected an odor and seized about 66 grams of ice meth in seven plastic bags found in the vehicle and one from Bell’s pocket.

U.S. District Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Bell on Aug. 13 to 130 months in prison and also ordered him to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Manternach and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Cedar Rapids Police Department.

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