Goodell, IA – A Hancock County man is facing a potential 15-year prison sentence after admitting to possessing a firearm while actively using marijuana, a federal offense. Larry Wayne Robbins, 67, of Goodell, Iowa, pled guilty on April 11, 2024, to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), and 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(8).
The case unfolded after Robbins allegedly brandished a gun at a neighbor who was simply mowing a ditch approximately 300 yards from his property. The neighbor didn’t appreciate the unwanted firearm display and alerted authorities. That initial report quickly escalated when a subsequent search warrant executed at Robbins’ residence turned up not only firearms and ammunition but also evidence of marijuana use.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher, built their case around the fact that Robbins was an unlawful user of marijuana at the time he possessed the gun and ammo. Federal law prohibits anyone who regularly uses a controlled substance from legally owning a firearm. The details of the plea agreement weren’t released, but Robbins admitted to the facts of the case.
Robbins, currently under supervision by the United States Probation Office, will be sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after a presentence report is completed. While out on supervision, he’s restricted from possessing any further firearms. The maximum penalty he faces is a stiff one: up to 15 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and an additional three years of supervised release after any prison term is served.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF’s Kansas City Field Division handled the federal side of the probe, focusing on the illegal firearm possession aspect of the incident. Court file information can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case number 23-CR-03031.
This case highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on illegal firearm possession, even in rural areas like Goodell, Iowa. While marijuana laws are evolving at the state level, federal regulations remain firm: drug use and gun ownership are a prohibited combination. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa continues to pursue these cases vigorously, as demonstrated by the potential severity of the sentence facing Robbins.
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