A Hedrick man was recently sentenced to prison following a joint weapons-trafficking investigation conducted by Jefferson and Wapello county law enforcement agencies.

Court records show through a plea agreement 57-year-old Gregory Allen Warnke was convicted of one count of possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, both class D felonies. Warnke is ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the counts to be served concurrently, and fines of $1,025 with a 15% criminal services surcharge were suspended for the counts. One additional controlled substance charge was dismissed, as well as five additional counts for felon in possession of a firearm and one count of unauthorized possession of offensive weapons.

According to Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding, a high-risk warrant was executed at Warnke’s home in 2021, where law enforcement found rifles modified to be fully automatic, short-barreled rifles, a silence/suppressor, and substantial quantities of ammunition, as well as equipment and gear used in the manufacture of firearms. The investigation also found him to be in the possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. The joint operation involved the Jefferson and Wapello County Sheriff’s Offices, Fairfield and Ottumwa police departments, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Jefferson and Wapello County Attorney’s Offices.