Andrea Crystal Lee, Unlawfully Possessing a Gun, Iowa 2023

A 35-year-old Emmetsburg woman has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm in federal court in Sioux City.

Andrea Crystal Lee was convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, a charge stemming from a January 2023 incident in which a state probation officer discovered drug-use paraphernalia at her home during a probation check.

The same day, a search of Lee's home was conducted pursuant to a search warrant, and law enforcement found a 9mm handgun concealed in a floor vent, 9mm ammunition in two magazines, and a bag of needles.

As a drug user and felon, Lee was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Lee had previously been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance – 3rd or subsequent offense on April 30, 2021. She was on state probation for that offense when she committed the federal firearms offense.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lee remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

Lee faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/emmetsburg-woman-pleads-guilty-unlawfully-possessing-gun