A 22-year-old Iowa City man has been handed a 41-month prison sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon, in a case that highlights the ongoing struggle against gun violence in the Hawkeye State.
Javeyel Johnta Jones was identified at the scene of a shooting in Muscatine in May 2023, where a gun was recovered and found to have his fingerprint on it. A second gun was discovered in West Liberty during a 2024 investigation.
At the time of the federal indictment, Jones was already on probation for a 2023 conviction of possessing a firearm as a felon in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal announced the sentencing, which comes as part of a broader effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence through the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The case was investigated by the Muscatine County Police Department and Muscatine County Drug Task Force.
Jones will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his prison term, but will not be eligible for parole in the federal system.
Project Safe Neighborhoods aims to bring together law enforcement and community organizations to address the root causes of violence and gun crime, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
For more information about the program, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
Related Federal Cases
- Felony Firearm Possession Lands Iowa City Man 120 Months in Prison · Iowa
- Thaddeus Southall, Possession of Firearm by Felon, Waterloo IA, 2012 · Iowa
- Ramon Olague, III, Possessing a Firearm after Felony Conviction, Si… · Iowa
- Harris Ceaser III, Possession of Firearm as Felon, St. Louis MO, 2014 · Iowa
- Ramius Hardiman, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Cedar Rapids I… · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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