Cedar Rapids Drug Felon Gregory Givens Sentenced to 22 Years

Gregory Givens, a 29-year-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been handed a nearly two-decade sentence for his latest drug offense. Givens, who has previously served time for drug trafficking under different names, was found guilty of unlawful possession of ammunition and intent to distribute crack cocaine.

The evidence revealed that Givens was caught with a cache of 9mm ammunition and large amounts of marijuana during a traffic stop in October 2010. He provided false identification and lied about his criminal history, which later investigations confirmed included two felony convictions for cocaine possession in Illinois.

Further charges were brought against Givens after police discovered crack cocaine and more marijuana in an apartment where he was staying, with the substance found beneath his mattress during a subsequent search. Despite being identified through fingerprint analysis, Givens continued to provide false names during his encounters with law enforcement.

In a bizarre turn of events, Givens refused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the court or participate in his trial. He was eventually removed from the courtroom for causing a disturbance during sentencing.

Sentenced by Chief Judge Linda R. Reade to 262 months’ imprisonment, Givens must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system, and he remains in US Marshal’s custody until transportation to a federal facility.

The case against Givens was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program dedicated to enhancing gun crime prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt prosecuted the case, with assistance from the Cedar Rapids Police Department and other federal agencies.