United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa

01/21/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 08:22

Georgia Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges

Press Release

Georgia Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - A Georgia man was sentenced today to 300 months in federal prison for possessing distribution quantities of meth, fentanyl, and heroin, and a firearm.

According to public court documents, Taft Cornelius Burtton, 32, fled from law enforcement who were attempting to traffic stop his car on April 20, 2023 within Adair County. Burtton drove over 112 miles per hour on I-80, exited and re-entered the interstate, and made a U-turn in the median. Law enforcement disabled Burtton's vehicle and he fled on foot and was not apprehended. Inside Burtton's vehicle was 884 grams of methamphetamine and more than $42,000 in drug proceeds.

On December 7, 2023, law enforcement searched Burtton's Des Moines residence and found him in possession of more than 50 grams of fentanyl, 150 grams of heroin, 150 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of crack, 300 grams of marijuana, and a loaded Ruger pistol. Burtton is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a felon, including a 2016 conviction in the Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County for delivery of cocaine at a public high school.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Burtton will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Adair Police Department, Des Moines Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff's Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Contact

MacKenzie Tubbs
Public Information Officer
515-473-9300
[email protected]

Updated January 22, 2025
Topics
Drugs
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Firearms Offenses