CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Ryan Thomas Beattie, 31, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will spend the next two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence, handed down on April 9, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge C.J. Williams, stems from a December 2022 incident involving domestic assault and a disturbing pattern of circumventing gun laws.
The case unfolded after Cedar Rapids police responded to a report of an assault on a woman and a young child on December 14, 2022. Beattie was arrested and subsequently convicted of child endangerment, assault causing bodily injury, and interference with official acts. Crucially, officers discovered two loaded firearms near the scene of the assault, which Beattie admitted were his. He brazenly confessed to enlisting his then-girlfriend to purchase the weapons on his behalf, knowing his felony conviction barred him from legally owning them.
Investigators later determined the girlfriend had purchased a total of four firearms for Beattie. While two were recovered at the time of his arrest, a third surfaced during a separate incident in Iowa City. The fourth firearm remains unaccounted for, raising concerns about its potential use in further criminal activity. Beattie’s prior criminal history includes a previous prison stint for child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, painting a clear picture of a repeat offender with a disregard for the safety of others.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Corkery successfully prosecuted the case, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigation revealed a calculated attempt by Beattie to arm himself despite legal prohibitions, demonstrating a clear threat to public safety. Beattie’s sentence includes a mandatory three-year term of supervised release following his 24-month prison term, although there is no parole in the federal system.
Federal officials emphasized that this case is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a comprehensive program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The program prioritizes focused enforcement efforts and community-based prevention strategies.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 23-CR-52. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa can be followed on Twitter @USAO_NDIA. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to recover the missing firearm and monitor Beattie’s activities upon his release.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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