A January 9 court date has been set for a 25-year-old Spencer man convicted of distributing methamphetamine.

Eder Noe Sosa-Jimenez was convicted Wednesday, Sept. 24, of:

* conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute,

* distribution of methamphetamine while using a minor and

* possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

The verdict was returned after about seven hours of jury deliberations according to a statement released Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth.

The jury heard evidence from prosecutors that Sosa-Jimenez brought at least three pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Spencer between Nov. 20, 2007, and April 17, 2008.

An undercover law enforcement officer purchased an ounce of methamphetamine from Sosa-Jimenez on Nov. 20, 2007. A minor was used to execute part of the transaction, according to prosecutors.

Six days later, law enforcement officers purchased a quarter pound of methamphetamine from Sosa-Jimenez. Search warrants were executed by law enforcement a week after the initial purchase and investigators found cash, a scale, baggies and methamphetamine.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will preside over the 4 p.m. sentencing at the federal courthouse in Sioux City. Sosa-Jimenez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life in prison. A $4 million fine and $500 special assessment also are possible.

Kevin Fletcher of the U.S. Attorney's Office handled the case. It was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and sheriff's offices from the counties of Clay, O'Brien, Dickinson and Buena Vista. The Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City also played a role.