SIOUX CITY — A Fort Dodge man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal drug and gun charges.

Carl D. Lambert Jr., 47, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

At his plea hearing Wednesday, Lambert admitted that he and others distributed more than 3 pounds of pure meth in the Fort Dodge area.

The conspiracy lasted from January to December 2017.

On Nov. 4, 2017, Lambert had a .22-caliber pistol in his waistband and more than 46 grams of meth. He admitted that he carried the pistol with him for protection, and that he intended to distribute the meth.

Lambert will be sentenced at a later date.

He will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service pending sentencing.

Lambert faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, in addition to a consecutive mandatory five years for the gun conviction.

He also faces a possible maximum life sentence. Lambert could also be ordered to pay a $15 million fine and up to five years of supervised release once his sentence is completed.

The case was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa Department of Criminalistics Laboratory.

It was prosecuted by the United States attorney’s office, Northern District of Iowa.