Muscatine woman gets 15 years after federal drug charge guilty plea


A Muscatine woman has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance following her arrest in 2019.

According to court documents, Kayla Jean Crabtree, 34, was identified as a drug trafficking suspect in January 2019.

While attempting a traffic stop on Crabtree for an outstanding arrest warrant based on a parole violation, Crabtree tried to flee and struck several police squad cars that were blocking her path.

When apprehended, a glass methamphetamine pipe and functioning compact digital scale were found on her. A search warrant was executed on Crabtree’s vehicle and officers found approximately 70 grams of methamphetamine, drug packaging materials, and $3,389.25 cash.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement learned Crabtree was involved with the distribution of over 1.5kg of ice methamphetamine.

Crabtree pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on January 28, 2021 and admitted to being involved in an ice methamphetamine distribution conspiracy beginning by as early as January 1, 2019, and continuing until April 23, 2019, when Crabtree was arrested.

United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey issued the sentence on June 22, and also ordered Crabtree to serve five years of supervised release and pay $100.00 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.