Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. Deon Hicks, Jr., aged 31, was sentenced on January 24, 2025, following his guilty plea on August 21, 2024, to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
During the sentencing, it was revealed that Hicks sold over 1,100 fentanyl pills to law enforcement officers through an undercover operation conducted between December 2023 and January 2024.
United States District Court Judge C.J. William handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids. Hicks received a term of 60 months' imprisonment and will be subject to a five-year supervised release period following his incarceration. Federal sentences do not allow for parole. Until he is transported to a federal prison, Hicks remains in the custody of the United States Marshal.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson. The investigation was carried out by the Johnson County Drug Task Force and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The task force includes members from several local law enforcement agencies: the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa City Police Department, Coralville Police Department, North Liberty Police Department, University of Iowa Police Department, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
