Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 20 years for dealing heroin, fentanyl

A 43-year-old Cedar Rapids man convicted of distributing heroin and fentanyl that led to multiple overdoses and deaths was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison.

DeShaun Anderson, also known as 'Shady,' pleaded guilty last September to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death.

During the plea hearing Anderson admitted he conspired with others to distribute heroin and an opiate, fentanyl, in Cedar Rapids.

Anderson admitted that users in four different incidents suffered serious bodily injury as a result of using the substances either he or his co-conspirators distributed. He also admitted that two individuals died as a result of using substances distributed by the co-conspirators, Max Julian Wright, 35, of Chicago, and Marcus Wallace of Cedar Rapids, who were also convicted.

Evidence during Wright's trial showed Wright brought large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine from Chicago to Cedar Rapids between 2013 and June 2015. Wright faces a mandatory minimum of life in federal prison.

The deaths and overdose injuries admitted to by Anderson occurred between late February and mid-April of 2015. Court documents show between January and April 2015, at least four other individuals lost consciousness, but did not suffer serious injuries after using drugs distributed by Anderson or the co-conspirators.

During a previous detention hearing, a DEA agent testified he talked with a victim of a heroin overdose at the Linn County Jail last year and he identified Anderson as selling him the heroin out of his minivan.

Later that same day, police responded to two heroin overdoses at the Westdale Court Apartments, according to court documents. One of those victims, after being taken to the hospital, told police the heroin was purchased from Shady. The second victim couldn't be interviewed due to her medical condition and she died later on April 15, 2015.

Documents show officers found bags of heroin in the van, along with $3,600 in cash. Anderson then claimed the heroin was for his personal use. He denied selling it.

U.S. District Judge Leonard T. Strand also ordered Anderson to pay $12,371 in restitution. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after his prison time.