Cedar Rapids Bicyclist Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Meth to Distribute to Others

A man who police stopped when he was riding his bicycle while in possession of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine that he intended to share with others was sentenced today to almost 6 years in federal prison.

Kenneth John Pena from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 20, 2017, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In previous hearings, evidence showed that Pena was riding his bicycle in Cedar Rapids at 4:50 am without the proper lighting equipment.  Police officers stopped him and discovered Pena had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.  While officers were arresting him, they found methamphetamine, marijuana, pipes, and a scale in his possession.  Pena has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple prior convictions for assault or battery, a prior drug trafficking conviction in 1994, and a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Pena was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade.  Pena was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Pena 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 Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department.  Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 17-CR-30.

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