Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a shooting during a failed drug deal. Seth John Lee McGraw, 25, admitted to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
The incident occurred on August 24, 2024, when McGraw met another individual in Cedar Rapids for the purpose of selling marijuana. According to court records, the transaction did not proceed as planned. McGraw drew a firearm and fired several shots at the other person, hitting them twice. Law enforcement later searched McGraw’s apartment and found multiple firearms and drugs. Among the firearms was a short-barreled rifle that was not registered as required by law.
McGraw was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids to 216 months’ imprisonment. He will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“McGraw is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison,” according to officials.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021 with priorities including building community trust and focusing enforcement efforts.
Additionally, this prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that coordinates resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and PSN to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent offenders.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep prosecuted the case following investigations conducted by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
