Iowa City man faces prison time for providing drugs to minor

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man faces up to 25 years in prison for providing drugs to a minor.

According to criminal complaints, on March 4, investigators with the Johnson County Drug Task Force served a narcotics search warrant at 2023 Davis St. in Iowa City. Police said the residents, Tremell T. Wilkins and Marvella Lindsey, both 26, were inside the residence. Lindsey was found attempting to flush packages of marijuana down a toilet, police said.

Police spoke with Wilkins, who admitted to selling marijuana. A cellphone belonging to Wilkins at the residence showed text messages between him and a 14-year-old who was also found at the residence. The messages indicated the 14-year-old had asked Wilkins for marijuana.

Wilkins has been arrested and faces possession of marijuana with intent to distribute to a minor, a Class B felony; and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, a Class D felony. If convicted of both offenses, he faces up to 25 years in prison for the Class B felony and up to five years in prison for the Class D felony.

Wilkins and Lindsey had been under investigation since January 2015. According to court documents, on Jan. 29, 2015, the Coralville Police Department learned about a pending crack cocaine sale. Police found the seller who was in possession of crack cocaine. A task force investigator spoke with the dealer, who agreed to cooperate with law enforcement as a confidential informant. The informant told police he had received the crack cocaine to sell from a man he identified as, 'Main.” 'Main” was eventually identified as Wilkins.

Police said the task force attempted two controlled purchases from Wilkins, but both were unsuccessful. However, during one of the attempted purchases, the informant mentioned a woman in the house who was selling marijuana: Lindsey.

Additionally, on January 30, the Iowa City Police Department's Crime Stoppers tip line received a tip about a man who goes by the name of 'Main” and a woman named Amber - Lindsey's middle name - who were selling large amounts of marijuana out of the Davis Street residence.

In February, task force investigators conducted a 'garbage rip” at the Davis Street residence, police said. A search of two garbage bags turned up documents attributed to both Wilkins and Lindsey, marijuana stems and seeds, corner tears - used to hold small amounts of drugs - and other drug packaging.

Lindsey was arrested in April and faces charges of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, and controlled substance violation, a Class D felony.