Cedar Rapids Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty to Death Charge

Cedar Rapids is reeling from the news that Ramon Cortez Freeman, a 35-year-old local man, has pleaded guilty to distributing heroin that ultimately resulted in a fatal overdose. The grim incident occurred in January 2014 when an individual identified as D.L. used the heroin supplied by Freeman and succumbed to its lethal effects.

Freeman, who was also found guilty of three counts of distributing heroin, admitted his actions during a plea hearing on November 24, 2014. The court documents reveal that the heroin Freeman distributed in February and July of that year contained approximately 70% purity. In April 2014, Freeman was caught with a .45 caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, further adding to his charges.

In addition to the drug distribution charges, Freeman faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His previous convictions for drug felonies in Chicago, Illinois, have only compounded his current sentence, which includes a mandatory minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life. He also faces fines totaling $4,250,000, special assessments of $500, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any prison term.

The prosecution of Freeman is a collaborative effort led by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, involving numerous agencies such as the DEA, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Marion Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.

Freeman remains in custody pending sentencing, which will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Court file information for this case, CR14-100-1-LRR, can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.