CEDAR RAPIDS -Two Cedar Rapids men pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court for their part in a heroin trafficking ring involving 11 defendants, which is connected to a two investigation year that recently wrapped up in the Waterloo area.
Terrance Miller, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison and up to $16,000.
Lorzelle Turner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of distribution of heroin/methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $16,000.
Both admitted during the hearing to being involved in distributing 100 grams or more of heroin within 1,000 feet of Polk Elementary School, 1500 B Ave. NE, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, and a playground – Daniels Park, J Avenue NE and Oakland Road NE between 2009 and September 2011. Both have been previously convicted of a felony drug offenses.
Turner also admitted to distributing 100 grams or more of heroin within 1,000 feet of a playground, Daniels Park and intentionally transferring a mixture or substance containing heroin and methamphetamine to another person.
According to court documents, a confidential informant working with the Cedar Rapids Police Department made a recorded call to Turner to arrange a meeting to purchase 1 gram of heroin for $150. Turner told the informant to meet him at Green Gable bar, J Avenue NE. He then picked up the informant and sold the .83 grams of heroin and methamphetamine while driving around the block within 1,000 feet of Daniels Park.
Last month in a related Waterloo area heroin ring, Lawrence Darrell Johnson, 38, of Waterloo, was convicted by a jury for distributing and trafficking more than 1,000 grams of heroin. Johnson faces mandatory life in prison. He was indicted with seven other co-defendants who also pleaded guilty.
In November, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent confirmed heroin was making a comeback in Eastern Iowa. Twenty-two people have died from heroin overdoses in the Cedar Rapids area within the last 18 to 22 months and three people have died in Johnson County so far this year.
