Dubuque Robber Gets 46 Months for Illegally Packin’

DUBUQUE, IA – Joseph Bogovich, 34, is headed to federal prison for nearly four years after being caught with a defaced handgun while already a convicted felon. The sentence, handed down in Cedar Rapids, underscores the federal government’s crackdown on repeat offenders and illegal firearms.

According to court documents, the trouble started late on September 8, 2018. Bogovich, driving with a suspended license, slammed his vehicle into a parked car in Dubuque. Instead of staying put, he peeled off, leaving the scene of the accident. A witness did the right thing and called it in to the Dubuque Police Department.

Officers quickly located Bogovich near his home. He readily admitted to the hit-and-run, blaming his lapse in judgment on being distracted by a lottery ticket. But the real problem wasn’t the fender bender – it was the handgun officers spotted inside his car. The serial number had been deliberately scratched off, a clear attempt to hide its origin. Bogovich’s prior felony robbery conviction automatically disqualified him from legally possessing any firearm.

To make matters worse, a search of the vehicle also turned up marijuana, and Bogovich confessed to using the drug earlier that evening. This combination of factors – the illegal gun, the obliterated serial number, the prior felony, and the drug use – sealed his fate. U.S. District Court Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Bogovich to 46 months in prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Forget about parole; the federal system doesn’t offer it.

Federal prosecutors highlighted that this case was brought under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. PSN isn’t just about arrests; it’s a comprehensive strategy involving law enforcement, community groups, and reentry programs to address the root causes of violence. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt prosecuted the case, with crucial investigative work done by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Bogovich is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, awaiting transfer to a designated federal prison facility. Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 18-CR-1048. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter: @USAO_NDIA.