Omaha Felon Ryan Linehan Sentenced for Gun Possession

Council Bluffs, IA – A dramatic standoff with police in Council Bluffs led to the sentencing of Ryan Daniel Linehan, 42, from Omaha, Nebraska. Linehan was handed a 100-month prison term on January 31, 2023, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The tense situation unfolded on February 5, 2021, when law enforcement arrived at Linehan’s workplace to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. The scene escalated as Linehan barricaded himself inside an excavator, armed with a loaded Ruger handgun. The standoff lasted nine hours before police safely apprehended him.

Inside Linehan’s truck, authorities discovered another loaded firearm: a Hi-Point handgun. The incident highlighted the dangers associated with firearms in the wrong hands and the commitment of local law enforcement to public safety.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal announced the sentence, emphasizing that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across communities. The program focuses on fostering trust, supporting community organizations, strategic law enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

The investigation into Linehan’s offense was a collaborative effort by the Council Bluffs Police Department, United States Marshal Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who violate gun laws and endanger the public.

Linehan will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. The sentence underscores the commitment to justice and community safety in Iowa.