By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
Sioux City, IA – A Humboldt County man pled guilty to federal drug and gun charges in federal court Tuesday, April 1.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa says 40-year-old Nathan Nickless of Dakota City pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of failure to appear.
In a press release, federal authorities say that Nickless had several prior convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm, including a prior 2008 drug felony for possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. The Dakota City native faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20 million fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 12, 2023, Nickless led law enforcement on a pursuit in the Fort Dodge area after local law enforcement tried to stop his vehicle. In the pursuit, he went onto a river road and rammed his truck into another vehicle, fleeing on foot. Nickless was eventually apprehended while trying to climb a river embankment. At the time of his arrest, Nickless had a backpack on him with a loaded 9mm pistol, multiple bags of narcotics including approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, pills, THC gummies, ammunition in sanitizing wipes, a scale, and multiple small baggies.
In federal court, Nickless was charged but was allowed to remain released pending his July 8, 2024, federal trial. Nickless failed to appear as required for trial and was at-large for the next several months as a federal fugitive.
In July 2024, a Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office deputy located Nickless at Casey’s in Pocahontas. When he failed to follow commands and a pursuit ensued, Nickless’ vehicle became disabled on 270th Ave. near the intersection with 470th St., SW of Rolfe where he then fled into a cornfield. Authorities set up a perimeter with a search that included drones, K-9s, aircraft, and countless law enforcement agencies, but could not locate him. Law enforcement abandoned the search at around 1:30 a.m.
On September 28, 2024, local law enforcement in Humboldt County located Nickless and attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving. He refused to stop and began a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement where he abandoned the vehicle he was driving in a field by a river. Law enforcement lost sight of Nickless when he went on foot along the river. The abandoned vehicle was seized, and a search warrant was granted. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found methamphetamine, multiple baggies of marijuana, pills, a scale, empty baggies for distribution, a methamphetamine pipe, and a marijuana pipe.
On October 2, 2024, Nickless was apprehended when multiple law enforcement agencies converged on his last known residence, 110 5th St. N in Dakota City. He was found hiding in an upstairs closet at the residence.
According to the press release, sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Nickless remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood, and was investigated by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshals Service.