Cedar Rapids man convicted as teen to serve federal prison time

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man convicted as a teen for involuntary manslaughter in 2011 now will serve time in federal prison.

Ramius Hardiman, 21, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court to more than two years in prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Hardiman violated probation he received for the state involuntary manslaughter conviction by breaking curfew and possessing a handgun.

Hardiman's brother Demetrius Hardiman gave him the gun and he also was convicted in federal court on firearm charges.

Ramius Hardiman broke his probation twice and a judge revoked his probation in March, giving him five years to serve in prison. He likely will serve his remaining time in state prison before serving 34 months in federal prison.

Hardiman pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2010 and received a suspended sentence and probation for a Nov. 8, 2010 car crash that killed his friend, Jose Mendoza, 17, of Cedar Rapids. Mendoza was in the back seat of the car.

Hardiman first violated his probation in 2012 when he was charged with assault causing bodily injury and fifth-degree criminal mischief.

In that incident he shot Jerrold Hendren with a BB-gun, causing injury, and fired the gun at Hendren's vehicle.