⏱ 2 min read
A six-time felon is headed to the federal pen after Cedar Rapids cops found him with a gun. James Merlin Hall, 48, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on April 22, 2026, for possessing a firearm after having six felony convictions.
On August 19, 2025, police searched Hall’s recreational vehicle and discovered the gun, despite his felony convictions making him a prohibited gun owner.
Hall pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon in May 2024, and his long history of run-ins with the law caught up with him. He’ll serve a 60-month prison term, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide crackdown on violent crime and cartels.
Hall is currently being held by the US Marshals until he’s transferred to a federal prison.
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- Marveon Williams, Gun Possession by Felon, Iowa 2022 · Iowa
- Williston Man Gets 15 Years for Gun, Ammo as Convicted Felon · Iowa
- Thaddeus Southall, Possession of Firearm by Felon, Waterloo IA, 2012 · Iowa
- DaiSean Battles, Gun Crimes, Waterloo IA, 2023 · Iowa
- Harris Ceaser III, Possession of Firearm as Felon, St. Louis MO, 2014 · Iowa
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Iowa
- Location: IA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
