CRIMESPAYMENT: Seth John Lee McGraw, 25, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was handed a 18-year federal prison sentence for a shooting during a botched drug deal. McGraw faced charges including possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
THE CRIME: On August 24, 2024, McGraw met an individual to sell marijuana, but the transaction went awry when he pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting his victim twice. The confrontation ended with law enforcement finding multiple firearms and drugs in his apartment later that day.
THE MAN: Seth McGraw, now serving 216 months, must also serve a five-year supervised release term after his prison sentence. His case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
THE JUDGMENT: Sentenced by Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids, McGraw will spend the next 18 years behind bars with no possibility of parole under the federal system. He remains in U.S. Marshal’s custody pending transfer to a federal prison facility.
THE INVESTIGATION: The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). McGraw’s short-barreled rifle, found unregistered at his residence, added to his charges.
THE CASE FILE: The case file number is 25-CR-7. Follow updates on @USAO_NDIA for more information.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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