A Dubuque man has admitted guilt in a federal court to charges related to a cocaine distribution conspiracy that led to the death of a young woman. Maurice Randolph, 44, was convicted for his involvement in distributing over 500 grams of cocaine near several parks and schools in Dubuque, Iowa, from 2017 until April 2021.
During the plea hearing, Randolph confessed to being part of the conspiracy and acknowledged that on February 14, 2021, one of his associates provided cocaine to a young woman who later died after using it. The incident occurred within close proximity to various public spaces in Dubuque.
Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams following the completion of a presentence report. Until then, Randolph remains under custody by the United States Marshal. He is facing significant penalties including a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment with potential life imprisonment, fines up to $10 million, and supervised release ranging from eight years to life post-imprisonment.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin. It involved investigations conducted by several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Dubuque Drug Task Force which includes members from both the Dubuque Police Department and Sheriff’s Office.
This legal action is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations posing threats within the United States through coordinated efforts among various agencies. More details about OCDETF can be accessed at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.