Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A 28-year-old man from Markham, Illinois, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm as a felon in Dubuque, Iowa. Friday Deel Gardner received a 77-month sentence on November 19, 2025, after pleading guilty to distributing a controlled substance near a school or park and illegally possessing a firearm.
During the sentencing hearing, evidence showed that Gardner sold fentanyl on four occasions, with three sales occurring close to schools or parks. Law enforcement later searched his residence in Dubuque and found over 275 fentanyl pills, ecstasy pills, marijuana, cash, and a stolen firearm.
Gardner had previously been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in federal court in 2017. He was sentenced then to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. While on supervised release during 2021 and 2022, he violated his conditions twice and was returned to federal custody.
Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids. Gardner will also serve six years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole available under the federal system.
Gardner remains in U.S. Marshals’ custody pending transfer to a federal facility.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels with community members to address violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, the Department of Justice implemented an updated strategy for PSN focused on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations aimed at preventing violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes.
This prosecution also falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice designed to counter illegal immigration activities, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent offenders.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson prosecuted the case. The investigation involved the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
