Possessing Nearly Two Kilograms of Marijuana and a Loaded Gun Results in Over Eleven Years in Federal Prison

 A man who was caught with nearly two kilograms of marijuana and a loaded handgun was sentenced today to more than eleven years in federal prison.

Charles Robert Evans, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 6, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Information presented at sentencing showed that Evans was approached by Cedar Rapids police officers in April 2020, at which time he jumped out of his car and attempted to run from officers.  Officers were able to tackle and arrest him and found over $3,000 in cash on his person.  A search of the vehicle revealed over 1,800 grams of marijuana and a loaded 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number.  Evans admitted to possessing the marijuana with the intent to distribute it, and to possessing the firearm in furtherance of that drug crime.  In June 2020, Evans was again stopped by law enforcement in Victor, Iowa, and arrested.  A search of his vehicle on that occasion revealed over 250 grams of marijuana and over $6,000 in cash.  Evans had previously been convicted of 36 charges as an adult, including a felony crack distribution offense and multiple assaults.

Evans was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Evans was sentenced to a total of 137 months’ imprisonment, consisting of 77 months’ concurrent imprisonment on the possession-with-intent and felon‑in‑possession charges and 60 months’ imprisonment consecutive for possessing the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.  He must also serve a total of 5 years of supervised release after the prison terms.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Evans is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Geocaris and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.