A Waterloo man has been found guilty of fentanyl trafficking and related charges following a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Javoni Marcelius Butler, 43, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, international money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Butler traveled to Mexico on several occasions between January 2022 and December 20, 2023, to acquire fentanyl. During this time, he obtained over 10,000 pills containing fentanyl and a significant quantity of fentanyl powder.
After obtaining the fentanyl, Butler worked with several people in Waterloo to distribute the substance. He also conducted an international wire transfer of drug proceeds on at least one occasion.
Butler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment, a $10,500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Butler was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.
The case file number is 23-CR-02078-CJW, and court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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