Cedar Rapids man convicted of distributing heroin

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man, who injected an ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child with heroin that caused her to overdose, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court.

Richard Roberts, 37, pleaded to one count of distribution of heroin. In a plea agreement, Roberts admitted he knew the woman was intoxicated and injected her with heroin on Aug. 12. She wasn't a regular heroin user and she lost consciousness. He then called 911 for medical assistance. When paramedics arrived, she was unconscious with labored breathing and a weak pulse, the plea agreement shows.

Emergency responders had to revive the woman with Narcan, an opiate antidote. Roberts admitted that without medical intervention by emergency responders, the woman had a substantial risk of anoxic brain injury and death.

Roberts knew the dangers of the drug, having overdosed himself more than once in 2014, court documents show.

Roberts faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force consisting of 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.