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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Seventy pounds of pot has an Eldon man looking at some serious jail time.

Ronald Conrad made an appearance in Wapello County Court Friday morning on three felony drug charges, including a "B" felony charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

Conrad faces 25 years in prison on the B felony alone.

The investigation into Conrad's activites began with a traffic stop in Urbandale on February 16, 2012. At that time, Conrad was found to be in possession of 70 pounds of marijuana.

As a result, the Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Task Force executed warrants at property in Wapello County controlled by Conrad over the next week.

While executing those warrants, officers seized marijuana and items consistent with the distribution of marijuana, a large amount of cash, and assets belonging to Conrad.

Those warrants resulted in the charges Conrad faced on Friday.

In addition, he faces several felony drug charges in Polk County in connection with the original traffic stop.

Complete press release from OPD

On Friday, September 21^st, 2012, Ronald Wayne Conrad, age 60, of 207 Elm Street, Eldon, IA, appeared in Wapello County Magistrate Court on the following charges: 

• Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a Class “B” Felony
• Possession with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana, a Class “D” Felony
• Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, a Class “D” Felony

The charges stem from 4 search warrants that were executed by officers on February 17^th, 2012 and February 22^nd, 2012, at properties in control of Ronald Conrad.  During the search warrants officers seized marijuana and items consistent with the distribution of marijuana, a large amount of cash, and assets belonging to Conrad.  These search warrants were a result of Conrad being stopped by law enforcement in Urbandale, Iowa, on February 16^th, 2012.  During that stop, Conrad was found to be in possession of 70 pounds of marijuana.  Conrad was subsequently arrested In Polk County on charges of Conspiracy to Deliver Marijuana, Tax Stamp Violation, and Possession of Marijuana, all Class D Felonies.       

The Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Drug Task Force was assisted in the investigation by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Ottumwa Police Department, Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the MINE Task Force.