News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2007
DEA Contact: Thomas E. Murphy
(314) 538-4660

Ottumwa Man Sentenced For Heroin Death

NOV 9 -- Des Moines, IA - On November 7, 2007, Wesley Allen Gridley, age 26, of Ottumwa, Iowa, was sentenced to a term of 180 months imprisonment for distributing heroin which led to the death of Craig Allen Handy, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also ordered Gridley to serve a three-year term of supervised release, imposed a Crime Victim Fund assessment of $100 and restitution in the amount of $6,832.35.

On June 15, 2007, Gridley entered a plea of guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. At the time of his plea, Gridley stipulated that on or about January 1, 2005, he intentionally distributed a mixture and substance containing heroin to Craig Allen Handy. As a direct result of ingesting or otherwise using the heroin supplied to him by Gridley, Handy died on or about January 1, 2005.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa. This case was investigated by the Ottumwa Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa City Police Department, the Coralville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.