Cedar Rapids Felon Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearm Charges

A man who led police on a high speed chase before attempting to dispose of a firearm in a cornfield was sentenced on April 11, 2017, to more than 24 years in federal prison.

Clayton Don Gregory, age 36, from Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after a November 14, 2016, guilty plea to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In a plea agreement, Gregory admitted he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on multiple occasions in July 2016. During a search at Gregory’s residence in August 2016, officers seized methamphetamine, marijuana, several rounds of ammunition, and a partially dismantled revolver. One week after the search, officers attempted to stop a vehicle in which Gregory was a passenger. During the pursuit, the original driver exited the car and Gregory took over driving, reaching speeds of 80 to 85 miles per hour in 25 and 30-mile‑per‑hour zones. Gregory drove to a cornfield, got out of the car, and hid in the cornfield. He was eventually apprehended by a K-9 unit. Officers discovered a 9 mm Ruger pistol partially buried in the cornfield, and a separate magazine containing 9 mm ammunition.

Gregory was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Gregory was sentenced to 293 months’ imprisonment on the drug count, and 120 months' imprisonment, concurrent, on the gun charge. A special assessment of $200 was imposed. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Gregory is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 16-CR-00072-1-LRR.

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