Cedar Rapids man convicted of distributing synthetic drugs, ID theft

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man accused of distributing synthetic drugs and identity theft pleaded guilty Monday in federal court and faces up to 22 years in prison.

Matthew J. McCauley, 39, pleaded guilty to one count each of maintaining a drug involved premises and to a new charge filed last Friday for aggravated identity theft. McCauley admitted during the court hearing that he owned and maintained the Fragrance Hut, 2902 First Ave. NE, for the purpose of distributing illegal controlled substances - synthetic drugs, from February through March.

McCauley also admitted in the hearing to using the name and birthdate of an actual person without lawful authority in relation to wire fraud.

According to previous testimony during a detention hearing an employee who worked for McCauley was stopped for a traffic violation in March and 63 packets of synthetic marijuana were recovered from Rice's car. At that time, Rice told officers McCauley told him to take the items home in case the business was burglarized.

The traffic stop led to undercover officers purchasing two packets of synthetic drugs from the Fragrance Hut, according to the complaint. The next day, officers responded to a motel regarding a disturbance call where McCauley was staying.

Police found a fraudulent driver's license and $1,245 in cash on McCauley, according to the complaint. Officers said they found multiple packages of synthetic drugs, prescription pill bottles with two plastic bags of methamphetamine, and 47 oxycodone and 17 hydrocodone pills in McCauley's bag.

McCauley faces up to 22 years in federal prison but he has several previous convictions, which a judge could consider that would bump up his prison time in federal court. He also has three separate cases pending in state court.

McCauley is charged in Linn County District Court with eight counts of forgery on Nov. 30, 2013 and Feb. 10, and on June 4 with first-degree theft, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, assault causing bodily injury (domestic abuse) - penalty enhanced, unlawful possession of a prescription drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

McCauley is accused of forging a check for $899.75 on the account of Cedar Valley Farms LLC and cashing it at Hy-Vee Drugstore, 1520 6th St. SW, in Cedar Rapids, on Nov. 30, 2013. In the other forgery, he is accused of altering a Western Union money order for a cash on delivery package at the post office. The money order had been issued for $6.99 and was altered and presented for payment as $236.99.

In the other case, he is accused of renting and then stealing an Enterprise rental car with a false identity, possessing methamphetamine, assaulting a woman – causing injury, possessing prescription drugs without a legal prescription and drug paraphernalia.

According to federal prosecutors, McCauley also has an outstanding warrant from Minnesota.