Marion Drug Ring Members Guilty on Meth Charges

Four men from Marion and Cedar Rapids were sentenced last week in a major methamphetamine trafficking case after pleading guilty in federal court. Robert Lee Michael Bates, 30, Phillip Lanell Rogers, 48, Anton Tarrice Whitney, Jr., 32, and Timothy Michael Webber, 45, all of Iowa, face stiff penalties for their roles in the cross-state drug ring.

According to evidence presented at hearings, David Belton, a/k/a “Blood,” orchestrated shipments of up to 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids between 2017 and March 2022. Belton utilized hidden compartments in vehicles to transport the drugs and would distribute them locally.

The investigation by the DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids led to a February 2022 intercept of 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine en route from California. The operation culminated in the arrest of Bates, who was caught ordering large quantities of meth over the wiretap. Rogers admitted his involvement in the conspiracy and selling meth to an undercover individual multiple times.

Whitney confessed to collecting cash proceeds for Belton’s organization and distributing ecstasy pills, which were later found to contain methamphetamine. His residence was raided in March 2022, resulting in the seizure of over 60 grams of ecstasy pills, a firearm, and ammunition. Webber, who admitted ordering meth from the Belton drug ring, faced a search of his home that turned up nearly 400 grams of ice meth and $25,550 in cash.

Sentencing before Judge C.J. Williams is pending, with each defendant facing at least 10 years’ imprisonment, fines up to $10 million, and lifetime supervised release. The case was part of the OCDETF program, a joint effort between DEA and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

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