Myles Schwitzer, Using a Communications Facility to Commit a Felony Drug Crime, Iowa 2019

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – A Cedar Rapids man dodged a prison sentence but landed three years of probation for his role in a heroin deal, federal prosecutors announced. Myles Schwitzer, 38, was sentenced on May 28, 2019, after admitting he used his cell phone to grease the wheels of a dangerous transaction.

Schwitzer pleaded guilty on December 21, 2018, to one count of using a communications facility – his phone – to commit a felony drug crime. The charge stems from his involvement in the possession of heroin and an attempt to possess more. This wasn’t a street-level bust; it was a calculated move, using technology to push poison.

United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids. Beyond the three years of probation, Schwitzer was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. A slap on the wrist for potentially ruining lives? Some might say so. But the feds are sending a message: even facilitating a drug deal carries consequences.

The investigation was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The team included officers from the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. These are the agencies putting in the hard work, tracking these movements, and building these cases.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Greenwood and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham prosecuted the case. They built the case against Schwitzer, presenting the evidence that led to his guilty plea. Court records related to the case – file number 18-CR-00107-CJW-MAR – are available for review at ecf.iand.uscourts.gov.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa continues to aggressively pursue drug traffickers and those who aid them. Follow their updates on Twitter: @USAO_NDIA. This case serves as a reminder that even a phone call can land you in federal court.

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