Clinton Felon Sentenced to More Than Twenty Years in Federal Prison
Erwin Keith Duffy Bell, a 36-year-old from Clinton, Iowa, has been sentenced to 248 months’ imprisonment, or over twenty years, after being found guilty of possessing a loaded firearm and assaulting a Mount Vernon police officer during a traffic stop on February 4, 2017.
Bell, an eight-time felon, had previously been convicted of various crimes, including possession of controlled substances with the intent to deliver, firearms trafficking, extortion, and burglary, in both Iowa and Illinois. He pleaded guilty on June 14, 2017, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Bell was a passenger in a car traveling on Highway 30 when a Mount Vernon police officer attempted to arrest him. Bell resisted arrest, striking the officer and attempting to grab their duty baton. He also threatened to ‘beat’ the arresting officer and spat on another officer during the struggle.
After being subdued, Bell was taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital, where he remained combative. A loaded firearm was later found on the ground at the scene.
United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade sentenced Bell to 248 months’ imprisonment, a $100 special assessment, and ordered him to pay $400 in restitution to the City of Mount Vernon, Iowa. He will also serve a five-year term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Bell is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. He must serve a total of 248 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his crimes in Iowa.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime