Heroin And Fentanyl Dealer Who Caused Near-death Overdose Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison
OMAHA, Neb. - Matt Barden, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha District Office, today announced that fentanyl and heroin dealer Cordero R. Seals, 29, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for distributing heroin laced with fentanyl causing a near-death overdose. Seals received this sentenced after being found guilty on July 19, 2017, during a jury trial held in the United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa.
“Drug traffickers who lace their drugs with fentanyl represent some of the worst of the worst,” Associate Special Agent in Charge Barden said. “Dealers lacing their drugs with fentanyl, knowing just how lethal fentanyl is, clearly show their disregard for humanity. Investigations like this are vitally important to our neighborhoods and communities, and DEA is proud of the close ties we have with our state and local counterparts, who work tirelessly along with DEA to strive for a drug free community.”
During his jury trial in July, Seals was convicted on the charges of distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, as well as possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Evidence presented at trial detailed how Seals provided fentanyl laced heroin to his victim during a drug transaction, and then accompanied his victim to a local gas station. While there Seals’ victim went to the bathroom to inject the fentanyl laced heroin. Minutes later, Seals’ victim came out of the bathroom and collapsed at the gas station pumps. Seals observed his victim collapse, and responded by simply leaving the area with no regard for his victim. Seals’ prior criminal arrests from April of 2017, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of fentanyl laced heroin, was also presented at trial as evidence.
Seals was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Linda Reade, and was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after his prison term. Seals is being held by the United States Marshals Service until he can be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement (DEA), the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the DEA Task force consisting of personnel from the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; the Iowa City Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.
