Arizona man pleads guilty in U.S. court to possession with intent to deliver meth after Floyd County traffic stop

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

An Arizona man who was charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute after being stopped for speeding in Floyd County pleaded guilty recently in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

John Trinidad Qualls, age 42, from Tucson, Arizona, was stopped by a Floyd County deputy on Jan. 31, 2022, on Highway 18 near Rudd for allegedly driving 88 mph in a 65 mph zone.

The deputy’s report said a search was conducted on Qualls’ vehicle and two plastic bags containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine were located in the vehicle. Together the bags weighed about four pounds, the report said.

Qualls was initially charged in Floyd County District Court with possession with intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class B felony, and failure to affix a drug stamp, a Class D felony, but those charges were dismissed shortly before trial was to begin so the case could be prosecuted in federal court.

Qualls pleaded guilty and was convicted in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, on a charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

In a plea agreement, Qualls admitted that after being stopped for speeding, he handed an officer a black pouch, which contained his license, insurance and registration. There was marijuana residue inside the pouch, and both the pouch and documents smelled of marijuana.

The deputy testified he also noticed marijuana residue on the center console of vehicle and could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle. Qualls also admitted that he had used marijuana earlier that day.

Law enforcement searched the car and found 1,200.10 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.

In federal court, Qualls filed a motion asking that the court suppress the evidence found in the search of his vehicle because there was not probable cause for the search, but the court ruled that the deputy had probable cause because of the presence of marijuana residue and smell in the pouch and also in the vehicle.

Sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Qualls remains in custody of the United States Marshal.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devra T. Hake said Qualls faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and maximum penalties of not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, a mandatory special assessment of $100; and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to a term of life.