DAKOTA CITY — A Dakota City man who at one point had been a wanted fugitive pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to drug and gun charges.

Nathan Nickless, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one court of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of failure to appear.

According to prosecutors, on Aug. 12, 2023, Nickless evaded law enforcement in Fort Dodge when officers attempted to pull him over for a traffic stop. After ramming his truck into a non-law enforcement vehicle, Nickless fled on foot, but was apprehended while trying to climb a river embankment. While fleeing, Nickless was in possession of a backpack that included a loaded 9mm pistol, multiple bags of narcotics including approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, pills, THC gummies, ammunition, a scale, and multiple small baggies.

At the time, Nickless was charged in federal court, but released pending his July 8 trial. He failed to appear in court as was required.

On Sept. 28, law enforcement in Humboldt County became aware that Nickless was in the area. While attempting to stop Nickless’ vehicle, he began another vehicle pursuit with law enforcement and again dumped his vehicle in a field by a river. Law enforcement lost sight of him when he was on foot. In his vehicle was found methamphetamine, multiple bags of marijuana, pills, a scale, empty bags investigators believed would be used for drug distribution, a methamphetamine pipe, and a marijuana pipe.

On Oct. 2, Nickless was found hiding inside a residence in Humboldt County and was arrested.

Nickless remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with a possible sentence of life in prison, as well as a $20 million fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshals Service.