Federal judge sentences Cedar Rapids man to nearly 13 years for heroin distribution

CEDAR RAPIDS - A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Cedar Rapids man to nearly 13 years in federal prison for distributing heroin that resulted in the nearly lethal overdose of his girlfriend, who he injected with the drug in 2015.

Shawn Albert, 25, pleaded guilty last October to distributing heroin on Sept. 27, 2015. He admitted during the plea hearing to distributing heroin to his girlfriend and that she overdosed and was hospitalized.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade said she was granting the prosecution's recommendation for more prison time, 151 months, based on the seriousness of the offense and the danger that heroin use, which has been on the rise over the last several years, causes to individuals.

Reade also cited there were many 'extremely aggravating factors” in the case. Albert, a longtime drug user, not only injected himself that day in a car, but also gave it to his girlfriend, who had never used before. She said they both lost consciousness but when he came to and he saw his girlfriend wasn't waking up, he didn't call 911 or take her to the hospital. Instead, he sent a message to a friend, asking him what to do.

When Albert didn't get an answer, he then took more heroin, passed out and woke up again to find his girlfriend's face 'bluish and pale,” Reade said. Albert again didn't take her to the hospital but drove to a gas station and put ice on her body - 'trying to shock her body, but that doesn't work.”

Albert then drove to a park and propped his girlfriend up on tree by the entrance and called 911. It took 6 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, the judge noted.

In the emergency room, the woman had seizures and strokes, and medical staff said she could have had permanent problems, Reade said.

'By sheer chance and maybe a guardian angel - she didn't die,” Reade added.

Reade said to make matters worse, they didn't know the victim's name and couldn't contact her family. Albert did eventually call the hospital and told them her name. Albert said during the hearing that he takes 'full responsibility” for giving her the heroin that led to the overdose. He also apologized to her family and said he wanted to apologize to the victim but she wasn't in court.

He also said he would take advantage of the prison time to learn from this and make changes in his life.

Reade said this sentence will run consecutively to any prison time he receives in a pending state court case. He is charged with possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia in Linn County District Court.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com