Highway Stop Leads To Felony Drug-Dealing Charges For Iowa Man
A 28-year-old Iowa man, identified as Gregory Charles Howard, has been formally charged in Lake County after a traffic stop along Interstate 80/94 led to the discovery of psilocybin mushrooms, large quantities of marijuana, LSD, THC wax, vape cartridges, and other controlled substances.
The court document states a trooper observed a Chrysler Pacifica traveling westbound near the 13.5-mile marker of I-80/94 on November 16, 2025, drifting over the right shoulder line. The vehicle was stopped near the 13-mile marker. Howard, who identified himself with an Iowa driver’s license, told the trooper the Pacifica was a rental and said he was coming from Michigan. The trooper documented that Howard appeared nervous and detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from his person.
Howard denied consent to search the vehicle. According to the affidavit, a probable-cause search was conducted after the odor of raw marijuana was detected coming from inside the Pacifica. Two locked duffel bags were located—one of which was emitting an odor of raw marijuana. Howard refused to provide the combination codes, requiring the trooper to cut them open.
Inside the duffel bags, officers located:
• Two plastic bags of suspected psilocybin mushrooms
• Six vacuum-sealed bags of suspected marijuana
• A vacuum-sealed quantity totaling 8.3 pounds
• Paper squares suspected to be LSD
• A wax-like substance
• Four jars of suspected marijuana/THC wax
• 50 THC/marijuana vape pens
• 19 labeled glass jars of THC/marijuana product (14 grams total)
The mushrooms weighed 2.2 pounds and field-tested positive for psilocybin. The marijuana also field-tested positive. The affidavit notes the psilocybin quantity is considered per se possession with intent to deliver under Indiana law. Howard told the trooper everything in the vehicle was for his personal use and admitted the white paper squares in his wallet were LSD.
A criminal-history check showed Howard has a prior conviction for Conspiring With the Intent to Deliver Synthetic Marijuana on February 2022, in Wapello County, Iowa.
Charges filed November 17,2025:
• Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance – Level 2 Felony
• Dealing in Marijuana – Level 5 Felony
• Dealing in Marijuana – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of a Controlled Substance – Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Lodged in Lake County Jail.
