A man from Dubuque has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for selling fentanyl. Shon Dwayne Perkins, 37, was sentenced on July 1, 2025, following his guilty plea on December 19, 2024, to distributing a controlled substance near a protected location.
During the hearing, evidence showed that Perkins sold a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine near a protected area. It was also revealed that he had repeatedly sold fentanyl containing xylazine. As a result of using these substances distributed by Perkins, one drug user suffered necrosis of the arms leading to permanent scarring.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Perkins in Cedar Rapids to 60 months in prison. After serving his sentence, Perkins will be subject to six years of supervised release. The federal system does not allow parole.
Perkins is currently held in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
