Cedar Rapids man pleads guilty to charges related to heroin death

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man who provided heroin to a subject who died of an overdose has pleaded guilty to federal charges.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa, 35-year-old Ramon C. Freeman has pleaded guilty on Monday to distribution of heroin resulting in death, three counts of distributing heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Freeman has admitted to providing heroin to another person - identified only as D.L. - in January 2014. D.L. used the heroin and died of an overdose, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Freeman also admitted to distributing heroin in February 2014 and twice in July. That heroin was determined to be around 70 percent pure, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Furthermore, Freeman - who had been convicted of drug felonies in Illinois - admitted to possessing a loaded .45 caliber pistol in April 2014.

Freeman faces between 20 years in prison and a life sentence, as well as $4.25 million in fines, $500 in special assessments and a lifetime supervised release, should he be released form prison.