Iowa Felon Sentenced to 27 Months for Unlawful Gun Possession

A federal judge in Iowa has handed down a 27-month prison sentence to Andrea Crystal Lee, a 36-year-old woman from Emmetsburg, for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Lee pleaded guilty in December 2023 to the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, stemming from a January 2023 incident in which law enforcement discovered a loaded 9mm handgun, ammunition, and magazines in her home during a probation check.

As a convicted felon and drug user on state probation, Lee was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The search of her home was conducted after a state probation officer located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a routine check.

The case, part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence, was investigated by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kraig R. Hamit prosecuted the case, which resulted in Lee being sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.

Lee is currently being held in the United States Marshals’ custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case file number is 23-3011.

The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative aims to strengthen community relationships, support community-based organizations, set focused enforcement priorities, and measure results. The program has been in place since 2001 and has seen significant reductions in violent crime and gun violence nationwide.

Andrea Crystal Lee’s case serves as a reminder of the consequences of violating federal laws and the importance of community-based initiatives in reducing crime. The U.S. Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

For more information on the case, visit the U.S. District Court’s website at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter at @USAO_NDIA.