Deontae Montrice Lott, 39, of Davenport, Iowa, is headed to federal prison for 137 months after being convicted on federal drug and firearm charges. On Thursday, November 18, 2021, Chief U.S. District Judge John A. Jarvey handed down the sentence for Lott’s role in a heroin distribution scheme and his possession of a loaded weapon used to further the operation.
Lott pleaded guilty on June 28, 2021, to two charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, laid bare a pattern of narcotics dealing and armed criminal activity rooted in Lott’s Davenport residence.
Court records show that in August 2020, law enforcement recovered .62 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture during an initial encounter with Lott. That led to a full search of his home on August 13, 2020, where officers discovered 77.45 grams of the same deadly mix, a digital scale, $2,020.00 in suspected drug proceeds, and a loaded Taurus nine-millimeter handgun.
During a post-Miranda interview, Lott admitted to selling heroin and confirmed he kept the firearm to protect his drug trade. Prosecutors emphasized that the weapon wasn’t for self-defense—it was a tool of the trade, directly tied to his trafficking activities.
As part of his sentence, Lott must also serve four years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term and pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. The case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, a key player in the ongoing crackdown on opioid distribution in the Quad Cities region.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal, who announced the sentencing, reiterated the federal commitment to targeting drug traffickers who arm themselves. “When drugs and guns mix, communities pay the price,” Westphal said. “This sentence sends a clear message: we’re coming after those who profit from poison and protect their trade with violence.”
Related Federal Cases
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- Chicago Drug Dealer Gets Over 30 Years for Heroin Death · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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