Billy Douglas Thorne, a 57-year-old man from Mason City, Iowa, has been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The conviction comes after a one-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on July 24, 2012, Thorne traded his dog for a .22 caliber rifle that he intended to use to shoot his son. In an attempt to conceal the gun from police, Thorne had others hide it in a Mason City park.
After Thorne was arrested on harassment charges, the gun was turned over to the police. His previous conviction in 1997 in the State of Florida for five counts of Burglary of a Dwelling and one count of Armed Burglary, all felony offenses, made him ineligible to possess a firearm.
Billy Douglas Thorne faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a $250,000 fine and $100 in special assessments. He will also be required to serve five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Thorne remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Ankeny Police Department, and the Mason City Police Department.
The conviction is a significant blow to Thorne, who has been found guilty of a serious crime. His sentence will be determined by the court after a presentence report is prepared.
The case file number is 13-CR-3052 and is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Billy Douglas Thorne’s conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of strict gun laws and the consequences of violating them.
The City of Mason City and the state of Iowa take gun crimes seriously, and Thorne’s conviction is a testament to this.
Related Federal Cases
- Billy Douglas Thorne, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Iowa 2014 · Florida
- Billy Douglas Thorne, Unlawful Firearm Possession by a Felon, Iowa 2012 · Florida
- Robert Lee Lane, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Florida 2012 · Florida
- Deandre Miller, Possessing a Firearm as a Felon, Iowa 2024 · Iowa
- Hassan Mohamed, Firearm Possession by a Convicted Felon, Kentucky 2024 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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