Date: 07-27-2023

Case Style:

United States of America v. Ray Bustamante

Case Number: 3:23-cr-00027

Judge: Stephanie M. Rose

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (Scott County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Davenport

Defendant's Attorney: Murray Bell

Description: Davenport, Iowa criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substance.

Ray Bustamante, 61, conspired with Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka, both of Iowa City, and others, to obtain and distribute methamphetamine. An investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service revealed that since early 2020, Bustamante mailed packages of methamphetamine to people he met online. In March 2021, a parcel, mailed by Bustamante, was intercepted by Postal Inspectors and found to contain approximately 137 grams of “ice” methamphetamine.

In a separate investigation in May 2021, first responders were dispatched to Hojka’s Iowa City apartment for a report of an unconscious victim, who was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the victim ingested methamphetamine which caused his death. It was later determined that the methamphetamine ingested by the victim originated from Bustamante and was sent to Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka in Iowa City for distribution.

After his prison term, Bustamante was ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Iowa City Police Department.

CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - 21:841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 846 Drug Conspiracy
(1)

Outcome: Defendant is sentenced to the custody of the BOP for a term of 144 months with a 5 year term of supervised release to follow. $100 Special Assessment.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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