Darien Henkel, Gun Possession, Iowa 2020

A Dubuque man is heading to federal prison after being convicted of unlawful gun possession, a crime that's all too common in Iowa.

Darien Henkel, 23, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on April 21, 2020, for his role in the crime. Henkel was arrested on the same day he stole a gun from a family member, with the firearm still in his possession at the time of his arrest.

According to court documents, Henkel admitted to regularly using methamphetamine, a fact that likely contributed to his decision to commit the crime.

Henkel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. In addition to his prison term, Henkel will also serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his sentence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime through a combination of enforcement and community-based initiatives. PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to address the root causes of crime.

The case was also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence, enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes, and improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Schunk and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dubuque Police Department.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/dubuque-drug-user-sentenced-fifteen-months-federal-prison-unlawfully-possessing-gun