CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Gentile Kahungu, a 19-year-old from Marion, Iowa, will spend the next nine years in federal prison after being sentenced on July 18, 2025, for possessing multiple illegal machinegun conversion devices. The case, which exposed a dangerous stockpile of weapon modifications, highlights the escalating gun violence plaguing Iowa cities.
Kahungu pleaded guilty on January 31, 2025, to possession of a machinegun. Federal investigators discovered a total of 18 machinegun conversion devices in his possession. Disturbingly, two of these devices were already attached to firearms. A June 25, 2024 raid of Kahungu’s Marion home uncovered some of the devices, alongside a tan Glock magazine and ammunition stashed in his bedroom. A subsequent arrest in Cedar Rapids yielded even more conversion devices – and a tan Glock firearm *with* a conversion device already installed.
The evidence presented at sentencing painted a grim picture. Authorities established a direct link between Kahungu’s modified Glock and at least two separate shootings: one in Marshalltown, Iowa, and another in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The specific details of those shootings remain under investigation, but the fact that a weapon in Kahungu’s possession was used in violent crimes significantly impacted the sentencing. This wasn’t just about illegal parts; it was about putting dangerous tools in the hands of someone connected to real-world violence.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams handed down the 108-month (nine-year) prison sentence in Cedar Rapids. Kahungu will also serve a three-year term of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. It’s crucial to note: there is no parole in the federal system. He is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service awaiting transport to a designated federal facility.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin prosecuted the case, with crucial investigative work conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Marshalltown Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaborative law enforcement and community engagement.
The DOJ’s PSN program focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts, and rigorously measuring results. While this sentence delivers a measure of justice in this case, it’s a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal weapons and the individuals who exploit them. Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-00088. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on X @USAO_NDIA.
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