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A Waterloo, Iowa, house was hit by a brazen gun thief in June 2024. Justin Michael Barnes, 29, from Rock Island, Illinois, stole 15 firearms from the unoccupied home with the help of his then-girlfriend, Jena Wells. Barnes, a seven-time felon, was on parole at the time and had a warrant out for his arrest. The motive behind the theft was to sell the guns for profit.
Barnes’s crime spree was cut short when Waterloo police officers stopped him on June 10, 2024, and found several of the stolen guns in his backpack. During an interview with law enforcement, Barnes repeatedly lied about how and where he had acquired the guns. His deceit ultimately led to his downfall.
Barnes pleaded guilty to possession of firearms by a felon and possession of stolen firearms on November 20, 2025. On May 1, 2026, he was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Barnes will also serve a three-year term of supervised release after his prison term.
Barnes’s accomplice, Jena Wells, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison on March 9, 2026. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force.
The sentencing of Barnes marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their fight against gun violence and crime. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating violent crime and protecting communities.
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