Two Men Convicted in Crack Cocaine Ring in Cedar Rapids

Tools

Two Men Convicted in Crack Cocaine Ring in Cedar Rapids

By Becky Ogann

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) - A federal jury has convicted two men accused of operating a crack cocaine ring in Cedar Rapids.

The U.S. attorney's office says John Bolden, of Cedar Rapids, and Zechariah Benjamin, of Chicago, were convicted on Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Prosecutors say the pair got large amounts of crack cocaine from Chicago and distributed 1-2 ounces per day at times. A search of an apartment in Cedar Rapids last December turned up 38 grams of crack cocaine and over $6,000 in cash.

Bolden was convicted of five drug charges. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and an $11 million fine.

Benjamin, who has two prior felony convictions, was found guilty of 3 counts. He faces life in prison and a $12 million fine.

A sentencing date wasn't immediately set.

Monday, Jun 23 at 8:27 PM Ann wrote ...

I heard that 65% of the federal sentencing time had to be served. Is that true?

Flag for moderation

Thursday, May 15 at 3:30 PM Black wrote ...

DOUBLE STANDARDS!!! WHERE IS MY COMMENT...SUCH HYPOCRITES!!!!

Flag for moderation

Thursday, May 15 at 9:44 AM 85% ??? wrote ...

Per a previous comment, "85% of a sentence for a federal charge must be served". Big deal. Why isn't it 100% BTW, the risk of becoming an "inmate" in one of today's prisons isn't much of an incentive for the dirtbags to stay clean when they can make big bucks as dealers. The threat of a prison sentence used to strike fear into the hearts of perps, but no more.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 11:47 PM Cedar Rapidian wrote ...

This is not a victimless crime. Those people could of been selling to one of your loved ones or children. To say they weren't hurting anyone is unbelievable. Bratislava you must not have someone who has been affected by drugs- because you wouldn't be saying that if you have.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 10:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Ever drive in WELLINGTON HEIGHTS? I see porch loads of people sitting around while their front yards are filled with trash..Too lazy to get off their butts and clean up their own neighborhood. Dealing drugs is easier then real work I guess. I also hear Postville has job openings..

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 6:59 PM The Right Targets wrote ...

These ARE the big fish that need frying. Pursuing every petty local user loser is where resources are wasted. These are the hard-core drug pushers who try to hook schoolkids, not a couple of temporarily unemployed twentysomethings trying to pay bills by selling pot to their friends.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 3:49 PM Cedar Rapidian wrote ...

And just to clarify. I don't think all people from Chicago are low lifes. So if you're not a low life...you shouldn't be offended.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 3:45 PM Cedar Rapidian wrote ...

I agree that this is a harsh punishment..and there are "bigger fish to fry." However, lets stop for a moment and take a second to analyze all of the crime, especially in our Wellington Heights area that has become so prevalent. Why you ask? Low lifes from Chicago. Coming here, corrupting our streets and our children. I think if you are coming here to do ANYTHING other than becoming a productive member of our community, you need to go. And if where you're going happens to be prison-so be it. TTFN

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 2:56 PM Bratislava Jim wrote ...

I can't believe that our prisons are full of people like this who are guilty of a victimless crime. Nobody was hurt, the only people who deal with the dealers are addicts anyway. They are selling something to make money. We need to stop funneling our precious resources into wars, be they drug wars or oil wars. Let's start using our money to help people, not lock them up. This is a disgrace.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 2:13 PM Roger wrote ...

Funny how we get all upset over drug dealers and cops when the real criminals are elected and live in Washington DC.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 2:02 PM whatever wrote ...

What people have to understand, drugs, violence...it all stems from one thing. Easy money. Maybe if people would become more educated in certain things we could change the lifestyle. People only do what helps them out...These people have found one certain thing. What if they could have done something else that would fulfill them in the same way. It's their choice to do what they have done, they have known the consequenses from the beginning. I stand on middle ground for them.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 1:04 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Get the users not the dealers? That makes no sense. Thats like attacking the symptoms and not attacking the cause. Who cares about the users. if it wasnt available to begin with then you would never have users? But we have shown that the drug war is a gross mis allocation of resources and we need to reevaluate how we spend our tax dollars.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 1:01 PM Anonymous wrote ...

85% of sentence must be served on federal charges. Quit saying they will be out in a few years. Like someone else said, what do you think leads to murders and other crimes, drugs and drug trafficking. yes it would be great if every single murderer and pedophile were put away but it isn't that easy. Hell in a lot of cases people won't come forward with vital information about murders because they don't want to be snitches.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 11:49 AM Drug Counselor in Iowa wrote ...

Just think people these are the people who are approaching our kids, pushing drugs at them, letting them try some for free to see if they like it, then when they are hooked, they have customers. Federal time also means they will serve at least 85% of whatever it is they are sentenced to, up to 10 years is what they are facing. I think they should have to work in a morgue dealing with bodies of people who die from alcohol and drug related things (od's, car crash deaths, etc.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 10:31 AM Wake up wrote ...

Need to work on getting the users off the streets. They are the ones that we need to worry about, without users, wouldn't need drug dealers. They are only providing what a users want, like medication for a sickness. I don't agree with selling drugs, but I don't agree with the harsh punishment of it either. I have kids & IF I had to choose to live next to a DRUG DEALER, KILLER or CHILD MOLESTER, there is no question which one I would choose. The system needs to re-evaluate the law.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 9:57 AM buttman wrote ...

7:38 Why don't you... I think you might want to go back and re-read the article because it states that these men FACE a 10 year and a life sentence. It doesn't mean they'll get that much time. You weren't by chance one of their customers, were you? Maybe next time you'll comprehend the entire article before criticizing some other idiot. YAY!

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 9:23 AM Truth in sentencing? wrote ...

10 years? Life? Multi-million dollar fines? Yeah, right ... like that's ever going to happen. Don't be misled by the tough talk of our "justice" system. These perps will be back in business after a few years of "good behavior".

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 8:46 AM Angela wrote ...

The jurors didnt even pay attention to half of the charges!!!! These men are getting charged for things that "federal informants" said in the courtroom, these "informants" were crack addicts!!! Way to Federal system, you put away men based on things that crack addicts told you!!! SOMETHING IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE!!!!!

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 7:45 AM To Gary wrote ...

Quite the drama queen aren't we?

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 6:48 AM jp wrote ...

As a father drugs on the street is a big fear. I think its ignorant to say things like "we should spend more time on the murders or the big drug dealers." this isn't CSI, everywhere on earth has unsolved cases. Keep up the good work CRPD

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 3:54 AM troyboy wrote ...

My thanks to all the Law Enforcement agencies that made this case. To the person complaining about Unsolved murders and other crimes this is what causes many of those crimes.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 14 at 3:32 AM Jim wrote ...

What is the point of an $11 million fine, it will never be paid anyway, unless when they get done with their 10 years they start selling crack again, and a lot more of it.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 10:45 PM Concerned Iowan wrote ...

It's too bad that there are many unsolved murders on the Iowa books as well as many reports of abuse and etc. We should spend a little more time on that. It is good to catch the big dealers, but these guys aren't big dealers, they are the little guys, use em to get to the big guys! Maybe they should be forced to do all the drugs they are caught with as punishment, that way when they are dieing they are truly punished by their own crime.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 8:19 PM ya wrote ...

meanwhile violent offenders and pedo's get off with only a couple years jailtime.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 8:00 PM really? wrote ...

10 years minimum is a firm wrist slapping? That's in federal court, where minimum means minimum. They'll be in for a decade, in a prison that is most likely nowhere near Iowa.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 7:45 PM justmyopnion wrote ...

i think that the government started it first,they aint nothin but a big gang who can sell drugs and sell guns,solicit things they have no business doin but when we do it they try to put us up under the jail!!where the hell is the justice in that...people need to wake up drugs guns stealin killin poverty all that stuff is still gonna be here it will just be the people that you look up to and vote for who'll be runnin the show,yall dont hear me.....but yall know...

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 7:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Not when it is federal. There are mandatory minimums and they have to serve 85% of the term at least.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 7:38 PM Why don't you.... wrote ...

...READ the article before ranting about the CRPD "slapping the wrists" and sending these criminals back on the streets? It says in plain English that one was given a ten year sentence and the other life imprisonment. I commend the swift justice! YAY.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 6:39 PM Thanks again, Chicago! wrote ...

These guys will be back on the street just as soon as Iowa gives them a firm wrist-slapping.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 5:20 PM Gary wrote ...

GUILTY!! They should be given a death sentence.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 4:46 PM Just say NO to drugs wrote ...

This is solid proof that dealing drugs comes with a price. It's illegal, immoral, and will kill you. I think the jury sent a solid message that being involved in drugs will come with a hefty price.

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 4:43 PM BG wrote ...

With all the crime that Chicago natives have brought with them, I hope this sends a message that Iowans have no real tollerance for drug pushers!

Flag for moderation

Tuesday, May 13 at 4:43 PM anonymous wrote ...

put em away

Flag for moderation

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

By submitting a comment to this web site, I affirm that I have read, understand, agree to and shall abide by the following rules and regulations as a term and condition of all comments which I may post. As terms and conditions of using this KCRG web site, I agree that I am fully responsible for the contents of all statements which I make. To the best of my knowledge, all such statements are true, fair, and accurate. I shall not post any statements which attack a person’s integrity or moral character, expose a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, deprive a person of the benefits of public confidence and social dealings, or injure a person in the maintenance of that person’s business. I shall not knowingly post content that violates the copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual property right of a third person. I shall not post content that is false, liable, defamatory, obscene, abusive, that violates a person’s right to privacy, that otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law or that is otherwise inappropriate. I acknowledge that if I post a comment which violates this policy that an offended person to whom comments are directed may have a right through judicial process to determine my identity and make a claim against me for damages. I agree that I shall indemnify KCRG, its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates from any and all expenses KCRG may incur as a result of comments I post which violate this policy, claims and/or damages, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. KCRG is not responsible for the contents posted or anything arising out of the use of the contents or other interaction and has no obligation or duty to monitor or control any posting but does reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove, or edit user generated comment.

Athlete of the Week
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
More On Demand

What's On KCRG

8:01
I Survived a Japanese
9:00
Primetime: The Outsiders
10:00
KCRG-TV9 News at 10
10:35
Two and a Half Men