Cleveland Stephens, Methamphetamine Distribution, Iowa 2024

Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Cleveland Stephens, also known as ‘Schmitty,’ age 63, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Between August 2022 and June 2024, Stephens agreed with another person to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Northern District of Iowa.

Under a plea agreement, Stephens admitted to conspiring with another individual to distribute these large quantities of methamphetamine.

Stephens faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Stephens remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.