Dubuque Man Admits to Illegal Sawed-Off Shotgun

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – A Dubuque man is facing a decade behind bars after admitting to possessing a highly illegal weapon. Jordan Michael Edmonds, 24, pled guilty December 29, 2014, in federal court to possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun, a clear violation of federal firearms laws. This wasn’t some hunting rifle; this was a deliberately shortened, untraceable weapon primed for trouble.

According to court documents, Edmonds knowingly possessed the Remington Sportsman model 58 12-gauge shotgun on or around June 14, 2014. The firearm was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record – a critical database for tracking legal weapons. Worse, the shotgun’s serial number had been partially obliterated, making identification even more difficult. The barrel length, measuring less than 18 inches, definitively classified it as a sawed-off shotgun, a favorite tool of criminals.

The feds aren’t messing around with these kinds of weapons. Edmonds’ guilty plea comes with a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. He’s also looking at a hefty $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a three-year stretch of supervised release after serving his time. While currently free on bond, Edmonds’ freedom is now hanging by a thread.

This case wasn’t solved in a vacuum. The Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) teamed up to investigate, bringing the illegal firearm to light. Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin R. Eldridge and Assistant United States Attorney C.J. Williams are prosecuting the case, ensuring Edmonds faces the full weight of the law.

Chief Judge Linda R. Reade of the United States District Court will determine Edmonds’ fate after a presentence investigation report is completed. This report will provide the judge with a comprehensive overview of Edmonds’ background and the circumstances surrounding the crime. The case file, number 14-CR-1017, is publicly accessible at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that possessing illegal firearms carries severe consequences, and those who choose to skirt the law will be held accountable.