Ryan Nicholas Haynes, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Iowa 2019

Ryan Nicholas Haynes, a 28-year-old Des Moines man, is behind bars after a string of events that started on July 29, 2017, when he was present on a party bus that was stopped for a traffic violation in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

During the stop, officers smelled marijuana coming from the bus, so they removed the passengers to investigate further. When Haynes was stepping off the bus, he removed marijuana from his pocket and handed it to one of the officers. A pat-down search of Haynes revealed a firearm in his pants.

Before officers could recover the firearm, Haynes ran from them. After a short foot chase, officers apprehended Haynes near 16th Street and Grand Avenue. The firearm was recovered in a flowerbed outside a townhome in the 1600 block of Grand Avenue.

The firearm was identified as a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber handgun and was loaded with 14 live rounds of ammunition. This is a serious offense, and we are relieved that the firearm was recovered and the public was not put in harm's way.

Ryan Nicholas Haynes was subsequently charged with one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On November 6, 2018, following a two-day trial, a jury found him guilty of the charge.

On March 13, 2019, Haynes was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. This is a significant sentence, and we hope it serves as a deterrent to others who may consider similar actions.

The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department's Summer Enforcement Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

We commend the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors who brought this case to a successful conclusion. We also commend the bravery of the officers who apprehended Haynes and recovered the firearm.

Defendant: Ryan Nicholas Haynes

Criminal Charges: Felon in Possession of a Firearm

City and State: Des Moines, Iowa

Exact Date: July 29, 2017, March 13, 2019

Sentence or Outcome: 120 months' imprisonment, followed by a three-year term of supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/des-moines-man-sentenced-120-months-prison-felon-possession-firearm