mason city man sentenced to life in federal prison for cocaine convictions
Contact: Peter Deegan
A man who conspired with others from 2001 through 2004 to manufacture crack cocaine and to distribute powder and crack cocaine was sentenced May 3, 2010, to life imprisonment in federal prison. Sturdivant appealed his original sentence of 348 months’ imprisonment imposed on October 26, 2006. The Court of Appeals remanded the case for resentencing.
Tyrone Sturdivant, 41, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 7, 2005, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of powder cocaine. Sturdivant was previously convicted of three felony drug offenses, which include: delivery and manufacture of cocaine in VanBuren County, Michigan, on August 12, 1991; manufacture and delivery of cocaine in Lake County, Illinois, on February 23, 1998; and possession with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine in Bremer County, Iowa, on April 15, 2002.
Evidence at trial showed Sturdivant distributed over 20 grams of powder cocaine to individuals working with law enforcement. Other evidence presented at trial established defendant’s involvement in the distribution of over 350 grams of crack cocaine.
Sturdivant was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Donald E. O’Brien. Sturdivant was sentenced to life imprisonment. A special assessment of $300 was imposed. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sturdivant is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason City Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 05-3009.
