Armed Drug Dealer Convicted of Drug and Gun Charges

A Chicago man who distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine, and was found in possession of a firearm, was convicted by a jury on January 25, 2024, after a four‑day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Antonio Rayshaun Evans, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.  The verdict was returned yesterday following about one hour and thirty minutes of jury deliberations.             

The evidence at trial showed that beginning in the summer of 2021 and continuing to March 2023, Evans distributed over 70 pounds of methamphetamine and significant amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine.  On April 2, 2023, Evans distributed four pounds of methamphetamine, and on April 11, 2023, Evans distributed four ounces of cocaine.  On April 18, 2023, law enforcement officers stopped Evans’ vehicle and arrested him.  A closer inspection of Evans’ vehicle revealed a hidden compartment in the dash of the vehicle, which contained a firearm, over 26 grams of crack cocaine, and over 12 grams of fentanyl. 

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Evans remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Evans faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $44,500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dillan Edwards and Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 23‑CR‑02033‑CJW.

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