James Bell III, Gun and Drug Sales, Iowa 2020

A Dubuque, Iowa man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for his role in a gun and drug sales operation.

James Bell III, age 33, from Rock Island, Illinois, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of distribution of marijuana near a park in Dubuque, Iowa, after a prior drug conviction, one count of using a telephone to set up a drug transaction, and one count of possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense and two domestic abuse misdemeanor crimes.

Evidence at sentencing showed that Bell used a telephone on November 21, 2017, to set up a marijuana transaction. Later that day, he sold approximately one ounce of marijuana to an individual working with the police. On December 7, 2017, Bell sold two firearms to an individual working with law enforcement. During that transaction, Bell also sold someone else marijuana.

Bell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bell was sentenced to 37 months' imprisonment, and he must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Bell is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the Dubuque, Iowa, Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.

The case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.

Defendant: James Bell III

Criminal Charges: distribution of marijuana near a park in Dubuque, Iowa, after a prior drug conviction, using a telephone to set up a drug transaction, and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense and two domestic abuse misdemeanor crimes

City and State: Dubuque, Iowa

Date: July 13, 2020 (guilty plea), December 22, 2020 (sentencing)

Sentence: 37 months' imprisonment, followed by a four-year term of supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/gun-and-drug-sales-result-federal-prison-sentence