HIAWATHA, IA – Kori Dawn Hobbs, 41, of Hiawatha, Iowa, is headed to federal prison after admitting she illegally supplied firearms, including to a man with a history of domestic abuse. Hobbs was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on February 9, 2023, by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids.
According to court documents, Hobbs purchased a staggering 22 firearms between May 2019 and August 2021. She then knowingly provided access to those weapons to Jae Bernard, 49, also of Hiawatha. Bernard was barred from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for domestic abuse – a fact Hobbs was fully aware of when she handed over the guns.
This isn’t Hobbs’ first run-in with the law regarding illegal firearm transfers. In 2021, she was convicted of transferring a firearm to a minor. The incident stemmed from Bernard’s son attempting to sell a weapon and subsequently having it stolen. That son was also prohibited from possessing firearms due to a no-contact order. Bernard himself pled guilty to illegally possessing firearms on December 27, 2022, and awaits sentencing.
The ripple effects of Hobbs’ actions extended beyond Iowa. Firearms she purchased were recovered by law enforcement in both Urbandale, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois, raising concerns about the interstate flow of illegal weapons. Federal authorities haven’t released details on how those guns ended up in those cities, but the investigation remains ongoing.
Hobbs will serve a three-year term of supervised release following her prison sentence. Unlike state systems, there is no parole in the federal system, meaning Hobbs will serve her full 18-month term. She has been released on bond and is expected to surrender to the United States Marshal.
The case was a collaborative effort led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Hiawatha Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Urbandale Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
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