Former Iowa City man to serve 5 years for distributing heroin

DAVENPORT - A former Iowa City man convicted of distributing heroin which resulted in a 2012 death was sentenced last week to five years in federal prison.

Kyle Cameron Messerle, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing heroin. He distributed 'china white” heroin to two people at a Nov. 11, 2012 party on North Van Buren Street in Iowa City, according to an affidavit for the criminal complaint. One of the individuals who Messerle sold heroin died from a mixed drug (heroin) and ethanol intoxication.”

According to the affidavit, investigators connected Messerle to the heroin and death by talking to witnesses at the party who identified him and a review of the victim's phone, which indicated Messerle's text messages.

Messerle also admitted to supplying the heroin to the victim the night he/she died, according to the affidavit.

The other individual who bought heroin from Messerle said he also used the heroin that night with the victim.

U.S. District Chief Judge James Gritzner granted the two-level enhancement the prosecutor argued based on Messerle's actions when police arrested him at his apartment in December 2013. According to a sentencing document, Messerle while fleeing or resisting police, wielded a large knife in an aggressive manner at an investigator.

The investigator testified after he pulled his gun on Messerle, Messerle threatened to kill himself and held the butcher knife to his neck.

The government contended 'Messerle's conduct recklessly created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury” to the investigator. The investigator was chasing Messerle who ran from him into the apartment. Messerle grabbed the knife and was only 6 to 7 feet, 'within striking distance,” from the investigator.

This case was investigated by the DEA, Johnson County Drug Task Force, and the Iowa City Police Department.