A Cass County man charged for his involvement in a drug distribution ring in western Iowa has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. Nineteen-year-old Mason Blaine Loudermilk pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl. Authorities say between August 2020 and May 2022, Loudermilk obtained fentanyl pills from a source in Omaha, Neb. He then distributed these pills in and around Cass County, leading to multiple fentanyl overdoses that required medical attention to prevent fatalities. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, including: the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (SWINE), Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Omaha Police Department. Last month, three other Cass County residents, 33-year-old Cam Jahnke, 29-year-old Chase Jahnke, and 27-year-old Kelsi Thurman, were convicted on nearly identical charges and received similar sentences.
