Two brothers from Ossian have been sentenced to federal prison

Prison terms of nearly four years in federal prison have been imposed on each of two brothers from Ossian who were convicted of selling opioids and of possessing numerous guns.

22-year-old Kaleb Breitsprecher received the prison sentence because of a "guilty" plea he entered last August 25th to a charge of Distributing Heroin and a second charge of Possession of a Firearm as an Unlawful Drug User.  24-year-old Cole Breitsprecher entered "guilty" pleas one week later to the same charges.

On Thursday U.S. District Court of Northern Iowa Judge Linda Reade imposed the sentences, ordering Kaleb Breitsprecher to serve 46 months in federal prison.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Cole Breitsprecher was also sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, but was also fined $5,000.  The two brothers also must serve a three-year supervised release after federal prison.  The two are being held for transportation to a federal prison.

Evidence at a prior hearing showed that law enforcement officers purchased drugs multiple times from the Breitsprechers in April and May of 2017.  A June 2017 search of their homes in Ossian turned up 12 guns, including Bushmaster rifles with multiple high-capacity magazines.

"The Breitsprechers endangered the entire community by unlawfully possessing guns while using drugs," state U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan, Jr.  He added, "The also sold heroin and furanyl fentanyl, presenting a grave risk to everyone who bought these incredibly dangerous opioids."