CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Juan Jose Ruiz, 29 of Visalia, California, was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Dubuque area.

Ruiz pleaded guilty on April 24 to conspiracy charges involving the distribution of significant amounts of methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors say in 2021, he distributed 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 2,000 grams of cocaine to a drug-trafficking group in Dubuque.

Law enforcement says stopped Ruiz in Colorado in December 2021, discovering 25 pounds of ice methamphetamine hidden in his car.

Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Ruiz to 188 months in prison, followed by a five-year supervised release. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targe

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