Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to several felony offenses. Deshawn Cooks, 34, was sentenced on June 3, 2025, following his December 30, 2024 guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Cooks admitted in a plea agreement that he possessed 227 pills containing fentanyl and 77 ecstasy pills with methamphetamine. He intended to distribute these substances in Cedar Rapids and nearby areas. Additionally, Cooks acknowledged possessing two Taurus 9mm firearms for protection of himself, his narcotics, and the proceeds from their sale.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, strengthening PSN with principles focused on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Cooks was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids. He received a sentence of 102 months’ imprisonment followed by a five-year term of supervised release. In the federal system, there is no provision for parole.
The prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach and Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards. The investigation was conducted by the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
