DUBUQUE, IA – A late-night argument in Dubuque spiraled into gunfire, landing 51-year-old Kenneth Moore a 15-year federal prison sentence. Moore was sentenced July 2, 2025, after a jury found him guilty January 16, 2025, of possession of a firearm by a felon – a charge carrying serious weight given his extensive criminal history.
The incident unfolded around 4:00 a.m. on August 4, 2023, on the porch of a Dubuque residence. Moore engaged in a heated argument with an individual, prompting two others to attempt to intervene and de-escalate the situation. Instead of backing down, Moore pulled a pistol and fired towards the residence. The bullet narrowly missed two people and ripped through the front wall, ultimately lodging in the back living room wall. He then fled the scene.
Dubuque Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives quickly launched an investigation. Twelve days later, on August 16, 2023, officers located and arrested Moore. A search of the vehicle he was driving revealed the very pistol used in the shooting. Crucially, Moore was already prohibited from possessing firearms due to a staggering eleven prior felony convictions. Details of those convictions weren’t immediately released, but a record like that speaks for itself.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams handed down the 180-month sentence in Cedar Rapids. Moore will also serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his prison term – a formality in the federal system where parole is nonexistent. This isn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a clear message that armed repeat offenders will face the full force of the law.
The prosecution, led by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach, successfully argued that Moore’s actions were not only reckless but also a direct threat to public safety. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaborative law enforcement efforts.
Moore is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals, awaiting transport to a designated federal prison. Those seeking more detailed court file information can access it at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 24-CR-01009-CJW. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on X @USAO_NDIA for further updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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