SIOUX CITY – This Chicago woman made a life for herself in Mason City, graduatin’ college and crashin’ a car, but fate caught up, and after she done got some glocks for the wrong folk, she gone prison.
This Chicago woman, 32-year-old Cedrinique Coleman (pictured at top in a Cerro Gordo county jail mug shot), lived in Mason City for years and graduated from NIACC and crashed a car, purchased several firearms for prohibited persons and was convicted by a jury on July 25 after a 4-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. She was convicted of four counts of false statement and representation during a firearm purchase and two counts of purchasing a firearm for another for prohibited purposes commonly known as “straw purchasing;” she was acquitted of two counts of false statement and representation during a firearm purchase. The verdict was returned following about four hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that between April 2020, and July 2023, Coleman purchased seven firearms. Ms. Coleman came to the attention of law enforcement when the firearms began showing up at crime scenes both in Iowa, and out of state. Two Glock 19 handguns were converted to machineguns: one recovered in possession of a prohibited person in Chicago, the other was used in the shooting of a police officer in Minneapolis. A Glock 22 handgun was reported stolen by Coleman. Evidence at trial showed that this is a common tactic used in straw purchasing cases to distance the purchaser from the gun in case it is ever tied to a crime. The other handgun was found in possession of Coleman’s boyfriend on February 21, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Coleman’s apartment. Coleman’s boyfriend is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is an illegal drug user and domestic abuser. Coleman was aware of his prohibition because she was the victim of his domestic abuse conviction stemming from 2020. Coleman’s boyfriend was also out on bond for an indictment for attempted murder out of Blackhawk County. Despite this, Coleman continued to purchase firearms for her boyfriend. Photos and text messages recovered from Coleman’s cell phone showed she was in communication with her boyfriend before and during the purchase of several of the firearms. Evidence showed Coleman bought the guns at the request or demand of her boyfriend.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Coleman remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Coleman faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, Cedar Rapids Police Department, and Mason City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin C. Fletcher and Kraig R. Hamit.
NIT previously reported back in 2023 that Coleman was the driver in a Mason City area auto crash.
NIT also reported in 2016 that Coleman was among the listed graduates at NIACC commencement that year.
In 2021, Coleman was nabbed by local law enforcement for for driving while barred, but a judge suspended all her fines after she was guilty.