Cedar Rapids man sentenced to over 11 years for stealing fentanyl from drug dealer

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man who robbed a drug dealer in June of 2024 was sentenced Tuesday to over 11 years in federal prison.

Dequan Autrell Jenkins, 27, pleaded guilty Feb. 26 in U.S. District Court to one count each of interference with commerce by robbery; possession of a firearm by a felon; and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to evidence, Jenkins and another person met with a man in Cedar Rapids to purchase fentanyl on June 24, 2024. During the transaction, Jenkins pulled out a firearm and robbed the man of the drugs and his backpack.

Jenkins was prohibited from having firearms because of his felony convictions.

U.S. District Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Jenkins to 141 months and also ordered him to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

Jenkins remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until being taken to a designated federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force includes members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cedar Rapids and Marion police departments.

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