Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Waterloo man, Javoni Marcelius Butler, also known as “G Man,” has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for smuggling fentanyl into the United States and distributing it in the Waterloo area. Butler, age 44, was found guilty by a jury on September 20, 2024, of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, international money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
According to evidence presented at trial and sentencing, Butler began traveling to Mexico as early as January 2022 to obtain fentanyl pills and powder. Over the course of nearly two years, he brought more than 10,000 fentanyl pills and a large amount of fentanyl powder back into the United States for distribution in Waterloo. During this period, Butler possessed firearms and made threats of violence towards others. He also directed drug-related activities involving multiple people, including his girlfriend.
On March 14, 2023, a friend asked Butler for more fentanyl pills. While Butler was out of town, he told his friend where to find the drugs at his residence. The friend later reported continuing to use the pills despite warnings from Butler about their danger. The next day, Butler’s friend died from an overdose caused by those fentanyl pills.
Law enforcement stopped Butler on May 9, 2023 due to an active arrest warrant. Officers found almost $60,000 in cash during a search of his vehicle.
Further investigation led authorities to search two residences associated with Butler on December 20, 2023. They seized over 40 grams of fentanyl powder, a pill containing fentanyl, and a firearm. Around this time, intercepted phone calls revealed that Butler acknowledged he was “going to jail,” expressed regret about not quitting drug sales earlier, and discussed fleeing the country to avoid prosecution. He was arrested in the Southern District of Texas on December 21.
Butler’s sentence was handed down by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids: “Butler was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.”
Currently held by U.S. Marshals pending transfer to federal prison, Butler’s case involved multiple agencies working together under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The investigation included cooperation between federal agencies such as the FBI; DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and local law enforcement agencies from Waterloo Police Department and several neighboring departments.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson.
