Herman Terrill Baylor Sentenced for Felon in Possession of Firearm

Herman Terrill Baylor, 28, of Davenport, Iowa, is headed to federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On December 12, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose handed down a 102-month sentence for the charge, sealing Baylor’s fate in a case rooted in drugs, guns, and a tip from a nervous neighbor.

The crime unraveled after a concerned citizen contacted the Davenport Police Department, claiming Baylor had stashed two shotguns in the basement of a local residence. Officers moved quickly, launching an investigation that soon pulled in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). What they found confirmed the worst: Baylor, a convicted drug dealer, was back in business—this time trading crack cocaine for deadly weapons.

Baylor admitted his guilt on August 12, 2016, confessing he took possession of the two shotguns in exchange for crack cocaine. The deal was simple and dangerous—one fueled by addiction and desperation. But under federal law, his criminal history made the act a far more serious offense. A prior conviction in Scott County, Iowa, on December 26, 2007, for Possession of Crack Cocaine with the Intent to Deliver barred him from owning or handling firearms, legally sealing his status as a prohibited person.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa didn’t mince words. U.S. Attorney Kevin VanderSchel emphasized the threat Baylor posed to public safety. Letting a man with a violent drug trafficking past arm himself with shotguns wasn’t just illegal—it was a direct threat to the Davenport community.

On top of the nearly nine-year prison term, Baylor was ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. He must also pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund—a small sum, but a symbolic mark of accountability. The case stands as a stark reminder: felons and firearms are a federal flashpoint, and the justice system isn’t turning a blind eye.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Davenport Police Department and the ATF, underscoring the ongoing collaboration between local and federal agencies in cracking down on illegal gun possession. Media inquiries can be directed to Rachel Scherle at the U.S. Attorney’s Office via phone at 515-473-9300 or by email at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.