Andre Kase Jr Guilty

A 20-year-old Cedar Rapids man has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful user of marijuana. Andre Kase, Jr. entered his guilty plea on February 27, 2013, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

According to the plea agreement, Kase admitted to being in possession of a stolen Smith and Wesson .380 caliber handgun on October 8, 2012. Cedar Rapids police officers had responded to a report of an attempted burglary in progress and found Kase with the firearm. Kase also admitted to being a marijuana user and having been convicted of Burglary on September 19, 2012.

Kase faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The case against Kase is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Kase remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The guilty plea is a significant development in the case, which highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat gun crimes in Iowa. The case file number is CR 12-0084, and court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The prosecution of Kase serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of firearm possession by felons and the importance of enforcing federal gun laws. The use of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a serious offense that poses a significant threat to public safety. As the case moves forward, the community will be watching to see how the sentence is handed down and how it will impact the ongoing efforts to reduce gun crimes in the area.

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