Isaiah Pirtle, Fentanyl and Cocaine Conspiracy, Iowa 2024

Two Cedar Rapids men have been convicted of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in federal court. Isaiah Pirtle, also known as ‘Pudge,’ age 33, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Daxxton Cook, age 36, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted on April 10, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Cook admitted to agreeing with other people to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and sold various amounts of the substances in Cedar Rapids on different dates. On February 7, 2024, Cook sold 16 fentanyl pills. On February 8, 2024, Cook sold 1.93 grams of cocaine and 5.37 grams of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl. On May 28, 2024, Cook sold 12.55 grams of cocaine and 20.75 grams of fentanyl.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program brings together law enforcement and community organizations to make neighborhoods safer.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program.

Isaiah Pirtle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Cook faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Pirtle and Cook remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

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