OMAHA, NE – Derek J. Barbour, 35, of Malvern, Iowa, will spend the next 33 months in a federal prison after being sentenced Monday for being an addict in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down the sentence, with no chance of parole, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department, highlights the ongoing struggle to keep weapons out of the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them.
The bust originated with a simple call: suspicious activity at the Double Tree Hotel in Omaha on March 19, 2022. Officers responding to the report found Barbour standing next to a silver GMC Envoy parked in the back lot, squeezed between a dumpster and a storage container. Things quickly escalated when her companion, Zachary Younts, was observed rummaging around in the vehicle.
Younts, already wanted on an active warrant out of Sarpy County, wasn’t the only problem. A search of him turned up a live .22 caliber round and a small amount of marijuana. As a convicted felon, Younts was already prohibited from possessing either. But the real jackpot came with the search of the Envoy. Inside, officers discovered a staggering twelve firearms and a large quantity of ammunition – all later traced back to a residential burglary in Iowa.
The investigation didn’t stop at the guns. A search of Barbour’s purse revealed a different kind of contraband: three plastic baggies containing over five grams of methamphetamine, unidentified pills, and a hypodermic needle. Barbour readily admitted to a regular methamphetamine habit, sealing her fate in the case. While Younts awaits a jury trial, Barbour’s conviction stands as a stark reminder of the link between addiction and criminal activity.
Federal authorities are framing the sentencing as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust with communities and strategically focusing enforcement efforts. U.S. Attorney Steven Russell, speaking through a press release, emphasized the program’s commitment to making neighborhoods safer. However, critics might argue that addressing the underlying issues of addiction and poverty would be a more effective long-term solution than simply locking up users.
The ATF’s Kansas City Field Division played a key role in the investigation, working alongside the Omaha Police Department. While Barbour’s case is closed, the investigation into the source of the stolen firearms and Younts’s involvement remains ongoing. This case serves as a reminder of the constant flow of illegal weapons and the challenges law enforcement faces in keeping them off the streets.
Related Federal Cases
- Justin Coleman, Felon with Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- Kristen Patterson, Felon with Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- Kristen Patterson, Unlawful Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- David Arriaga, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Omaha NE, 2016 · Oklahoma
- Bryan Herman, Unlawful Firearm Sales, SD 2020 · Iowa
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