WATERLOO, IA – A Waterloo college student is trading textbooks for bars after receiving a seven-year federal prison sentence for peddling crack cocaine. Ryan Stevenson, 25, learned his fate on March 26, 2013, after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of the highly addictive drug back in November 2012.
The bust stemmed from multiple sales made by Stevenson to a confidential informant earlier that year, in January 2012. But the details are particularly grim: authorities revealed that Stevenson’s two-year-old child was present inside his home during at least one of these drug deals. A blatant disregard for the safety of a vulnerable child while engaging in criminal activity undoubtedly factored into the severity of the sentence.
Chief Judge Linda R. Reade of the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids handed down the seven-year term. This sentence isn’t being served in isolation; it will run consecutive to a sentence Stevenson already received in state court for an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) conviction – meaning he’ll be facing a longer stretch behind bars. Beyond the prison time, Stevenson was also slapped with a $100 special assessment and will be subject to a three-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release.
Don’t expect to see Stevenson back on the streets anytime soon. In the federal system, parole is nonexistent. He’s currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, awaiting transport to a designated federal prison facility. The Grimy Times will continue to track his case and report on any developments.
Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot successfully prosecuted the case, with the investigation spearheaded by the dedicated agents of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Their work has removed a dangerous element from the streets of Waterloo and sent a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated. Court records pertaining to this case, file number 12-CR-2023, are publicly accessible at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
This case serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of drug trafficking extend far beyond the dealer. The presence of a young child during a drug sale highlights the devastating impact this activity has on families and communities. The Grimy Times remains committed to exposing the dark underbelly of federal crime, holding offenders accountable, and informing the public.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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