man who conspired with others to distribute large quantities of cocaine that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque, Iowa, woman was sentenced today to more than 24 years in federal prison.

Maurice Levelle Randolph, age 45, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a December 5, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of cocaine within 1000 feet of several parks and schools in Dubuque between 2017 and April 2021, that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque woman on February 14, 2021.

At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted he was a member of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Dubuque area near numerous parks and schools.  He admitted he brought cocaine from Chicago and then worked with others to distribute the cocaine to customers in Dubuque.  On February 14, 2021, one of Randolph’s co-conspirators distributed cocaine to a young woman in Dubuque who went home, used the cocaine and died.  

Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Randolph was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $13,911 in restitution jointly with two other individuals to the victim’s family.  He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  The Court also forfeited $17,203 in drug proceeds seized from Randolph.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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