Christopher McGee, Possession of Firearms, Illinois 2023

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Christopher McGee, 22, is trading the streets of Cedar Rapids for a federal prison cell after receiving a 14-year sentence for illegally possessing firearms. The sentence, handed down this week, reflects a pattern of brazen disregard for the law and a clear danger to the public, according to court documents.

McGee pleaded guilty in August 2016 to two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, admitting he knowingly held onto two guns despite a 2014 felony conviction. But the scope of his illegal arsenal extended beyond those two, with evidence presented at sentencing revealing at least three firearms linked to McGee. The situation escalated further when details emerged of a 2016 assault where McGee allegedly wielded a dangerous weapon – a charge that clearly fueled the severity of his sentence.

The feds didn’t just build the case on possession. McGee attempted to evade justice in May 2016, leading Cedar Rapids police on a high-speed chase when they tried to bring him in. And he wasn’t empty-handed. During the pursuit, McGee was carrying a semiautomatic pistol loaded with a high-capacity magazine, painting a picture of a man actively preparing for conflict. The chase ended, but the legal reckoning was just beginning.

United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand delivered the 168-month sentence, emphasizing McGee’s history of weapons offenses and repeated attempts to evade law enforcement. “The need to protect the public from further crimes” was a key factor in the judge’s decision, signaling a firm stance against repeat offenders and gun-related violence. Unlike state systems, there’s no parole in the federal system, meaning McGee will serve the full 14 years. He’s currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals awaiting transport to a designated federal facility.

Assistant United States Attorney Ravi T. Narayan successfully prosecuted the case, backed by a joint investigation from the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal agencies focused on aggressively targeting gun crimes and reducing violence in communities. It’s a clear message: illegally possessing firearms carries serious consequences.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 16-CR-52. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to combat gun violence in Iowa and across the nation.

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