Meth traffickers sentenced for bringing ‘astronomical quantities’ to Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two men who arranged and led a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 pounds of ice methamphetamine in Cedar Rapids were sentenced this month to more than 30 years each in federal prison.

Derek Michael Mims, 32, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded in February to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

His co-conspirator, David Poitier Belton, 37, of Compton, Calif., also pleaded in February to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth and one count of being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm.

According to plea agreements, Belton, who was also known as “Blood,” and Mims admitted that they arranged for the transportation of 30 to 60 pound shipments of ice meth from Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids between 2017 and March 2022.

Both men paid other individuals to transport the drugs, typically in a vehicle that contained a specially made hidden compartment, according to court documents. Once the ice meth arrived in Cedar Rapids, Belton or Mims would distribute it to other members of the organization for sale to customers. In October 2020, the vehicle with the hidden compartment was searched by law enforcement officers while it was on a car hauler being transported to Iowa.

Officers found approximately 30 pounds of ice meth inside the hidden compartment, according to court documents.

In late 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Cedar Rapids conducted a wiretap investigation into Belton’s drug organization. In February 2022, agents intercepted communications indicating that a shipment of 60 pounds of ice meth was being transported from California to Iowa. Investigators tracked a courier driving a rental truck from Los Angeles to Nebraska, where the truck was stopped by authorities. During a search of the cargo area, officers found a plastic tote containing 60 pounds of the drug.

Following the seizure of the 60 pounds, Belton continued to purchase additional meth from his source in California, according to court documents. On Feb. 27, 2022, a conversation was intercepted between Belton and Kiyonte Sowell, a relative of Belton in California. Belton told Sowell that he was booking Sowell a flight and instructed him to “pack” a large suitcase and he was booking him a ticket in the morning. The next day, Sowell went to Los Angeles International Airport, taking a large roller bag with him through airport security as carry on luggage.

Airport security conducted an X-ray of the roller bag and observed multiple bags of an unknown substance underneath the clothes inside the bag, the plea stated. During a secondary search of the bag, security found five vacuum sealed bags containing meth. Sowell admitted that the bag was his but said his brother had packed it. When asked if he was aware of the contents of the bag he shrugged and said, “It looks like cocaine or meth, I don’t know.” He then said he was going to Iowa, “but all I know is that I’m missing my flight and I’m going to jail.”

On March 8, 2022, investigators searched Belton’s home in Cedar Rapids. During the search, investigators located a small amount of cocaine and 15 firearms.

Belton has been convicted twice of burglary and once of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to court documents. Belton also is prohibited from possessing firearms because he was an unlawful user of marijuana.

U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams described Belton and Mims as leading a “huge organization bringing back astronomical quantities of ice methamphetamine” that caused “untold damage to the community.”

Williams sentenced Belton Wednesday to 33 years in prison and in a separate hearing on Aug. 16, Mims was sentenced to 30 years. Each must serve five years of supervised release following their prison terms.

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