United States Drug Enforcement Administration

A man who distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions during the summer of 2025 was convicted by a jury today, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Jonathan Quinn Carter, age 37, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of eight counts of distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.  The verdict was returned this afternoon following about five hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that during the summer of 2025, Carter frequently traveled between Chicago and Cedar Rapids.  During these trips, Carter transported multiple pound quantities of ice methamphetamine back to the Cedar Rapids area.  He then eventually distributed the drugs to customers.  For example, in November 2024, law enforcement officers located four pounds of ice methamphetamine in a car headed back to Iowa that Carter was traveling in.  In August 2025, Carter arrived in Iowa City after taking a bus back from Chicago.  Law enforcement officers observed him get into a ride share and head towards Cedar Rapids.  During a traffic stop of the ride share, officers located two pounds of methamphetamine in Carter’s backpack.  Law enforcement officers also purchased half-pound quantities of ice methamphetamine from Carter on five different occasions and Carter assisted with arranging three other similar drug transactions.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Carter remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Carter faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Illinois State Patrol, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa City Police Department, and Coralville Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Dillan Edwards.