A 44-year-old man could be facing serious jail time following his arrest by state authorities on alleged drug activity. The man is accused of drug trafficking after a series of investigations turned up what police believe to be a large operation in Cedar Rapids. There is no word at this time whether the man has secured criminal defense representation, but official charges were still pending at last report.
The case began back in Dec. 2017 when authorities, including the FBI, were conducting an investigation into the suspected trafficking of methamphetamine. A vehicle in which the man was a passenger was pulled over, and a search allegedly revealed a backpack containing one pound of what authorities believe to be meth, as well as scales and a sizeable amount of cash. An Iowa home was raided the same day, believed to be connected to the man, which turned up nearly $60,000 in cash as well as more alleged paraphernalia.
The investigation continued into May 2018, when police conducted searches of several homes thought to be associated with the alleged trafficking. Police found large amounts of what they believe to be meth, and the occupants of the homes apparently fingered the suspected man as their source. Representatives of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement have requested that charges be filed against the man for what they believe to be his role in the ring.
Drug trafficking is a serious offense here in Iowa and at the federal level, and the penalties can include harsh jail sentences. However, police on the local and state level, as well as the FBI, will have to provide compelling evidence of his guilt to prosecutors, upon whom the burden of proof lies. If the prosecution cannot prove the formal accusations beyond a reasonable doubt, the man could see the charges against him reduced or even dropped altogether.
