David Devall, Firearm Possession, Iowa 2021

A 43-year-old man from Sioux City, Iowa, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon, drug user, and domestic abuse misdemeanant.

David Devall received the prison term after pleading guilty to being in possession of a firearm and ammunition on October 13, 2020. The guilty plea was part of a larger case brought under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime in communities.

Devall was previously convicted of felony and domestic abuse crimes, making it illegal for him to possess a gun. The case against him began on December 17, 2019, when officers with the Sioux City Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle in an area behind a closed business.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located a black backpack containing marijuana, a marijuana pipe, a methamphetamine pipe, a scale, methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. There was a round in the chamber of the gun and 14 rounds in the magazine.

Devall was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. He will also serve a two-year term of supervised release after his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Devall is currently being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

As part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the United States Attorney's Office has prosecuted this case with support from partners in the Project Guardian program, which aims to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.

The case highlights the importance of addressing violent crime in communities and the need for coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and community partners to prevent such crimes from occurring.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/convicted-felon-drug-user-and-domestic-abuse-misdemeanant-who-possessed-firearm