Hawkeye Reporter

A Waterloo man has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for smuggling fentanyl into the United States and distributing it in the Waterloo area. Javoni Marcelius Butler, also known as “G Man,” age 44, was found guilty by a jury on September 20, 2024, of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, international money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Evidence presented at trial showed that from at least January 2022 through December 20, 2023, Butler traveled multiple times to Mexico to acquire fentanyl pills and powder. He obtained more than 10,000 fentanyl pills along with a significant quantity of powder from his supplier in Mexico. The drugs were smuggled into the United States and distributed locally. During this period, Butler possessed firearms and made credible threats of violence toward others, including threatening to kill his son during a drug-related dispute. He also directed several individuals’ drug-related activities.

On March 14, 2023, Butler’s friend requested additional fentanyl pills. As Butler was out of town, he directed his friend to obtain them from his residence. The friend later told Butler he kept “popping” the pills; Butler warned him about their danger. The following day, the friend died from a fentanyl-related overdose caused by those same pills.

Law enforcement stopped Butler on May 9, 2023 due to an active arrest warrant. A search of his vehicle led officers to seize nearly $60,000 in cash.

On December 20, 2023 officers searched two residences connected to Butler: one was used as his home and another as a stash house. They seized over 40 grams of fentanyl powder, one pill containing fentanyl, and a firearm. Around this time law enforcement intercepted phone calls where Butler admitted he would be going to jail and expressed regret for not stopping sooner; he also discussed fleeing prosecution by leaving for Mexico or Belize. He was arrested in the Southern District of Texas on December 21.

Butler received his sentence in Cedar Rapids from Chief Judge C.J. Williams: "Butler was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system."

He will remain in U.S. Marshal’s custody until transfer to federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program through cooperation between several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force (Waterloo Police Department; Cedar Falls Police Department; Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department; Evansdale Police Department; Waverly Police Department; Hudson Police Department; La Porte City Police Department; Bremer County Sheriff’s Department); Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations.