Chicago man with Charles City ties sentenced to five years in federal prison on drug, firearm charges

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Chicago man with connections to Charles City has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug distribution charges and illegal firearm possession.

Ra-Melle Lewis Williams, 53, received the sentence Monday, June 2, in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids after pleading guilty in December to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Prosecutors said Williams possessed methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, along with a loaded handgun, during an April 2023 search of his Charles City residence.

Williams, who has a prior felony conviction for attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in Illinois, was prohibited from possessing a gun.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams on Monday sentenced him to 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The sentencing follows a lengthy investigation by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is part of the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods program to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

In Floyd County District Court, Williams was first arrested in April 2023 when Floyd County deputies executed a search warrant at his apartment in Charles City, uncovering crack cocaine, marijuana, pills belonging to others, paraphernalia and the firearm.

He was initially charged with five state drug and weapons violations. In July 2023, as part of a plea deal, two of those counts were dismissed and he pleaded guilty to three charges in Floyd County District Court.

He received suspended prison sentences and probation under the Iowa Department of Correctional Services.

Federal charges were filed in June 2024, including three counts of cocaine distribution, one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl, and one count of firearm possession by a felon.

As part of the plea agreement, Williams admitted to selling cocaine to a confidential informant three times in early 2023 and acknowledged the drugs and weapon found during the April search.

He has remained in U.S. Marshals custody since his December plea and will be transferred to a federal prison.