The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, previously convicted in state court for shooting a man, was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in federal prison for trafficking drugs near a school.

Cordarryl Cortez Smith, 38, pleaded guilty in March to one count of distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location .

According to court documents, law enforcement purchased methamphetamine twice from Smith in March 2023. One of the purchases was made within 1,000 feet of Johnson STEAM Academy Magnet School, 355 18th St. SE, in Cedar Rapids.

On March 22, 2023, officers stopped Smith’s car as it was returning to Cedar Rapids. At the time, Smith’s car was being driven by his brother and another ind

See Full Page