Eight Defendants Charged as a Result of Joint Federal and State Investigation of a Drug Trafficking Organization in Burlington

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Eight defendants are facing federal criminal charges as part of a multi-year joint federal and state investigation of a large drug trafficking organization that operated out of Burlington, Iowa. Five of the federal defendants were arrested yesterday, November 19, 2019. Those arrested will make their initial appearance in federal court at the United States Courthouse, in Davenport, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Kristi Johnson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Omaha Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Lisa Schaefer, Des Moines County, Iowa, Attorney; Dennis Kramer, Chief of Police of the Burlington, Iowa, Police Department; and Robert Copley, Chief of Police of the Quincy, Illinois, Police Department.

The charges stem from a long-term investigation conducted by numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce; Burlington, Iowa, Police Department; Des Moines County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; West Central Illinois Taskforce; Quincy, Illinois, Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Henry County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Police Department; West Burlington, Iowa, Police Department; Keokuk, Iowa, Police Department; Ft. Madison, Iowa, Police Department; Lee County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; Iowa City, Iowa, Police Department; Johnson County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; North Liberty, Iowa, Police Department; Coralville, Iowa, Police Department; Muscatine County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; Louisa County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; Washington County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office; Bettendorf, Iowa, Police Department; Illinois State Police; Monmouth, Illinois, Police Department; Macomb, Illinois, Police Department; Galesburg, Illinois, Police Department; Adams County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office; and Fulton County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office.

Eight defendants were charged by complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, stemming from a years-long investigation of this drug trafficking organization. Those arrested include KENDRICK PAGE, BREON RAQUON ARMSTRONG, LAMAR HARRIS, TRISTAN DAVIS, and JAMES LEWIS MILES, Jr. The identities of those who have not yet been arrested remain sealed at this time. Additionally, search warrants were executed at multiple locations in the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Illinois, and Northern District of Texas. Others involved in this drug trafficking organization have previously been arrested in both the Southern District of Iowa, and the Central District of Illinois.

The charges in the complaints carry maximum penalties of between 40 years and life imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. There is no parole in the federal court system.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
 

ADDENDUM

In addition to the defendants arrested this week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa has indicted 18 individuals in the last year from the Burlington, Iowa, area. To date, 16 defendants have been arrested and the names, case numbers, charges and penalties are outlined below. The other cases remain sealed pending arrest.

1. John Patrick Auwaerter Case Number 3:18-cr-101

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
Maximum Penalty is 40 years; mandatory minimum of 5 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) – Carry a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 5 years

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

On September 4, 2019, the Honorable Michael J. Melloy, Senior United States 8th Circuit Judge, sentenced Auwaerter to 180 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

2. Michael Lee Davis Case Number 3:18-cr-102

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Deliver
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) – Carry a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 5 years

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

On September 25, 2019, the Honorable John A. Jarvey, Chief United States District Court, sentenced Davis to 120 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release.

3. Rachel Marie Horn Case Number 3:19-cr-6

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B) – Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is 40 years in custody; mandatory minimum of 5 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

On November 14, 2019, the Honorable John A. Jarvey, Chief United States District Court, sentenced Horn to 240 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release.

4. Tyreon Leseanjea Woodard Case Number 3:19-cr-10

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

On September 25, 2019, the Honorable John A. Jarvey, Chief United States District Court, sentenced Woodard to 70 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.

5. Gerald Victor Terry Case Number 3:19-cr-19

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

6. Pamela Sue Hester Case Number 3:19-cr-41

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) – Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is 40 years in custody; 5 year mandatory minimum

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

7. Michael Antonio Davison Case Number 3:19-cr-43

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

8. Norris Davison Case Number 3:19-cr-43

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) –Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

9. Wilbert James Bowers Case Number 3:19-cr-43

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

10. Justin Harold Love Case Number 3:19-cr-43

Title 21, U.S.C. § 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

11. Anthony Collins Case Number 3:19-cr-46

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Distribution of a Controlled Substance (three counts)
Maximum Penalty is life in custody; mandatory minimum of 10 years

12. Demetrius Ernest Alexander Case Number 3:19-cr-66

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), 922(g)(3) – Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

Title 21, U.S.C. § 844(a) – Possession of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is 1 year in custody

13. Charles Lester Warner Case Number 3:19-cr-87

Title 18, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

14. Lloyd Davenport Case Number 3:19-cr-91

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years

15. Johnathan Keith Sneed Case Number 3:19-cr-99

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody

16. Allen Julian Fields, Jr. Case Number 3:19-cr-117

Title 18, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) – Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years