OTTUMWA — David Horvath, the 10th person arrested in Friday’s massive drug sweep of Ottumwa, faced a federal judge for the first time Monday.

Horvath, 39, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Monday’s court appearance was largely a formality, the same brief process faced by the other nine defendants over the weekend. The big hearing takes place Wednesday.

Mike Bladel, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office, said Wednesday’s court appearance is a “preliminary examination and detention hearing.” The goal is for prosecutors to establish probable cause for the case, allowing it to continue.

That hearing could result in the release of much more information than is currently available, including the warrant applications that outline what police believed to be happening. The applications could also shed light on the defendants’ backgrounds.

The details are not available now.

“Basically everything is sealed,” Bladel said.

Horvath was not yet scheduled for Wednesday’s hearing, but that appears to be more a function of when he was arrested than anything else. His arrest Friday evening delayed his initial appearance until after the other defendants. Bladel said he anticipates Horvath will “catch up with them” at the hearing.

Horvath has a prior record in Iowa, including convictions for theft and domestic abuse. The courts dismissed felony theft charges in 2007.

Authorities say the defendants live in the area but are from Chicago. Friday’s Ottumwa sweep coincided with a major anti-gang sweep in Chicago that targeted illegal immigrants. That sweep resulted in 49 arrests.

Some of the people arrested in Chicago are alleged members of the Insane Deuces, the same gang affiliation as William Edwards, James Edwards and Israel Joubert, three of the Ottumwa defendants.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com