Federal judge sentences Dubuque man for selling drugs near school

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Dubuque man was sentenced Wednesday to more than two years in federal prison on a drug charge.

Frank D. Washington Jr., 22, was convicted in U.S. District Court by a jury last December for possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school and playground.

Evidence at trial showed police searched Washington's home last June and found a distribution quantity of marijuana under Washington's bed. During a recorded interview, Washington admitted he intended to sell the marijuana.

Prosecutors also showed the jury hundreds of pages of Washington's social media accounts depicting Washington and others with guns and drugs, and pictures of Washington making hand signals of the Mulla Mafia Gang, or MMG, a street gang in Dubuque.

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade sentenced Washington to 27 months in federal prison. He also was ordered to serve four years of supervised release after his prison time.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com