Fort Dodge’s Matthew Bradley Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession

Fort Dodge’s Matthew Bradley, 37, has been found guilty in federal court for illegal possession of a firearm. The charges stem from an incident on April 11, 2024, when Bradley was apprehended by Fort Dodge police while riding a bicycle and wearing a backpack containing a concealed 9mm pistol.

The arrest also yielded small baggies of methamphetamine in Bradley’s pockets, along with additional drugs and a digital scale. His previous convictions for at least five state felony offenses, including drug-related charges, made him a prohibited person from owning firearms. Bradley admitted his previous felony convictions and his regular use of drugs, which further invalidated his gun ownership.

Bradley’s case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the nation. The program focuses on fostering community trust, supporting local organizations to prevent violence, strategic law enforcement, and measuring outcomes effectively.

Sentencing will be determined following a presentence report by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bradley currently remains in custody of the United States Marshal and faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a potential three-year supervised release period after serving his prison term.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde, with the investigation conducted by local law enforcement agencies including the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

For more information on this case, please visit the court file, where the case number is 24-3022. Stay updated with @USAO_NDIA on Twitter for ongoing federal crime news.