Cedar Rapids man with previous convictions sentenced to 20 years for firearms

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, who was armed and attempted to hold a woman at his used appliance business in Marion in 2024, was sentenced last week to 20 years in federal prison.

Cordell Maleec Mayfield, 28, was convicted by a jury in July of one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Mayfield represented himself in U.S. District Court during the trial.

Evidence at trial showed that Mayfield had a gun with an obliterated serial number in his Marion business on Sept. 19, 2024, when Marion police arrived to perform a welfare check. The welfare check came after a 911 caller asked police to check on her daughter, who was pregnant and inside the business.

Officers saw a gun in Mayfield’s hand and later found the handgun, which had an obliterated serial number, in a search. Evidence also showed that a few months before Mayfield stated in a recording that he preferred guns with obliterated serial numbers.

A complaint filed in the federal case stated officers found a 9 mm handgun loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. The gun with the obliterated serial number — something usually done to conceal stolen weapons — was red and blue, which officers identified as the gun Mayfield was holding when they saw him inside the building.

The gun was found in the unit next to Mayfield’s appliance repair business inside a commercial building, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Linn County District Court. It was wrapped in a T-shirt.

Mayfield was initially charged in Linn County District Court with tampering with a witness and domestic abuse assault on pregnant person — strangulation for this incident. Those charges were dismissed after he was indicted in federal court to allow those to move forward.

The woman told police she had come to the business to get her cat and had no intention to stay with Mayfield, according to state court documents. The woman indicated she was scared of Mayfield and his associates.

According to the state complaint, Mayfield was accused of assaulting the woman by strangling her.

Evidence at sentencing included Mayfield’s lengthy criminal history, which started when he was 10 years old and continued into adulthood with numerous drug-related and violent offenses, according to prosecutors.

U.S. District Chief Judge C.J. Williams, during sentencing, also ordered Mayfield to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, forfeit the firearm seized from him and to pay a fine of $2,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Reinert and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Marion and Cedar Rapids police departments; and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com