By Jolene Farley
Jason Richard Meyer, 23, Beaver Creek, was arrested and charged on Monday, Jan. 16, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of failure to possess a drug tax stamp.
The first charges stem from the sale of drugs on four separate occasions. Meyer was the focus of a four-month investigation by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office for drug trafficking.
"We seized over one-quarter of a pound of marijuana from him," said Lyon County Sheriff Blythe Bloemendaal.
The single count of failure to possess a drug tax stamp stems from Meyer’s failure to obey an Iowa law that requires dealers to anonymously purchase a drug tax stamp before they sell drugs.
The law was enacted, knowing that most drug dealers wouldn’t comply, as a way for the state to impose fines rather than jail time on illegal dealers.
The amount of illegal drugs seized is reported to the state and fines are assessed in increments based on amount.
"It’s Iowa’s way of really making it hurt," said Bloemendaal. "Now the state will get him in the pocket book if they can."
Meyer is being held at the Lyon County Jail on a $48,750 bond.