Illegal Alien Located in Northeast Iowa Sentenced to Federal Prison

An illegal alien from Jamaica, found unlawfully in the United States in Northeast Iowa, after having been previously removed following felony convictions in federal court, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison.

Information at sentencing showed that 55-year-old Steven Jarret of Montego Bay had been deported or removed from the U.S. in 1995, 2008, and 2013.  His removal in 2008 came following federal convictions in 2003 for entering the country on a false passport and drug trafficking in Kansas.  

Jarret, also known as Steven Jones, was sentenced to five years in prison and then removed from the country after completing his prison term in 2008.  His removal in 2013 came after he had returned to the U.S. and was convicted of money laundering in 2012 in Nebraska. 

 In December 2025, law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Iowa stopped Jarret as he was driving a commercial vehicle.  He was arrested for a traffic violation.  Immigration officials found Jarret as he was being processed at the Howard County Jail and arrested him.

In February, Jarret pleaded guilty to one count of being found after illegal reentry.

At sentencing Thursday (06.18) in Cedar Rapids, United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams said Jarret was a “dangerous drug dealer” when he was convicted in 2003 for trafficking more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana, and possessing a loaded gun, and in 2012 when he was convicted of laundering more than $140,000 in drug proceeds. 

Jarret has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after prison, though he faces likely deportation again after his prison term. He is being held in United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

 The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.