Cornelius David, Firearm Possession, Council Bluffs IA, 2023

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Cornelius Lavaughn David, 35, of Council Bluffs is headed to federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing and hawking a stolen handgun. David was sentenced to 30 months behind bars on February 15, 2023, following a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence doesn’t stop there; upon his release, David will face three years of supervised release, a continued leash on his freedom.

The feds say David’s trouble began in January 2022 when he came into possession of a firearm that was later reported stolen. That alone is a problem, but it’s compounded by the fact that David already had a felony conviction on his record – a conviction that legally barred him from owning or possessing any firearms. He ignored that prohibition, investigators found, and not only possessed the stolen weapon but actively tried to profit from it.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing, but the investigation was a coordinated effort. Detectives from the Omaha Police Department, alongside officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department, worked in conjunction with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to build the case against David. The ATF took the lead on the federal charge.

Federal officials are framing David’s case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. PSN, they claim, is about bringing together law enforcement at all levels and working with communities to make neighborhoods safer. Whether it’s making a real difference on the streets, or just a PR exercise, remains to be seen.

The Department of Justice launched a revamped version of PSN in May 2021, outlining a strategy based on building trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and focusing enforcement efforts. The stated goal is to not just react to crime, but to prevent it from happening in the first place. In this case, however, a stolen gun in the hands of a convicted felon was already a crime in progress.

David’s case serves as a stark reminder that federal firearms laws carry serious consequences. Even with a history of felony convictions, individuals continue to attempt to acquire and sell illegal weapons. The ATF and local police departments will continue to work together to stem the flow of illegal guns and hold those responsible accountable, even if it means a 30-month stay in a federal penitentiary for Cornelius Lavaughn David.

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