Donald L. Yarber, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Illinois 2023

PEORIA, IL – Donald L. Yarber, 29, of Dunlap, Illinois, will spend the next 30 months in federal prison after being sentenced Wednesday for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm also tacked on a three-year term of supervised release following Yarber’s incarceration.

The case unfolded after a routine traffic stop in July. Peoria Police pulled over the vehicle Yarber was driving, discovering cannabis inside. A subsequent search revealed a 9mm handgun with its serial number deliberately scratched off, along with a high-capacity magazine loaded with ammunition in the passenger area. As if that weren’t enough, a live round of matching ammunition was found concealed *inside Yarber’s shoe* while he was being booked into the county jail.

Federal investigators quickly traced the weapon, linking it to two separate shooting incidents: one in Chicago back in 2021, and another right here in Peoria just four days before Yarber’s arrest. The obliterated serial number suggests a clear attempt to hide the gun’s history – and potentially its connection to those earlier crimes. Yarber was indicted in July and entered a guilty plea in August, remaining in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service throughout the proceedings.

While the statutory maximum for a convicted felon possessing a firearm is a hefty 15 years, prosecutors secured a 30-month sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna led the prosecution, working with investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Peoria Police Department. The ATF didn’t release details about the Chicago shooting, and a deep dive into Peoria PD records is ongoing.

This case is being touted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. PSN focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategic enforcement.

Yarber’s sentence sends a message, however lukewarm, that illegally possessing firearms – especially with a criminal history and a tampered weapon – carries serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to track Yarber’s case and monitor the effectiveness of PSN in curbing gun violence in Central Illinois and beyond.

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