Dubuque, Iowa – In a shocking turn of events, a local candy store owner was sentenced to federal prison for selling crack cocaine out of his business. Dwayne Howard, 36, from Dubuque, was handed a 71-month prison term after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of crack cocaine near a playground on October 6, 2014.
The charges stem from a series of undercover operations in January and February 2014, where Howard sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer on multiple occasions. The sales took place inside his business, ‘Wayne’s Candy’, located at 1965 Central Avenue in Dubuque. Howard used his store to facilitate his drug sales, using drug money to fund the business and store inventory to make transactions appear legitimate.
During two of the undercover purchases, Howard told the undercover officer to take items from the shelf to make the transaction look ‘legit’. Investigators discovered that the business did not maintain normal business hours and bank records showed a paltry $5.00 bank account balance. A search of the business revealed little to no money in the cash register.
The candy store was located within 1,000 feet of two separate playgrounds, making the crime even more egregious. Howard’s actions put the safety and well-being of countless children at risk.
Howard was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. In addition to the 71-month prison term, a special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Howard is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
The case file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 14-CR-1013.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant name: Dwayne Howard, Crime: Distribution of crack cocaine near a playground, City and state: Dubuque, Iowa, Exact date: October 6, 2014, Sentence: 71 months in prison, Fine/dollar amount: $100 special assessment.
Court File Information: Available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, Case file number: 14-CR-1013.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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