SIOUX CITY, IA – Gabriel Krusen, 46, of Sioux City, is facing more than two years behind bars after a federal judge handed down a 34-month sentence for possessing a firearm while being both a convicted felon and a drug user. The sentencing, delivered June 21, 2024, by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand, closes a chapter in a case marked by resistance to law enforcement and a blatant disregard for court orders.
The trouble began to escalate over months, with Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies repeatedly encountering resistance while attempting to serve a protection order on Krusen. Court records show Krusen routinely evaded authorities, either fleeing upon their arrival or barricading himself inside his residence using barrels, barbed wire, and other obstacles. A loaded shotgun was consistently positioned near the fortified doorway, turning a domestic dispute into a dangerous standoff.
On July 31, 2023, deputies finally took Krusen into custody following multiple driving violations, successfully serving the protection order. A subsequent search warrant uncovered not only the firearm but also drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Krusen was initially released pending trial, but his behavior didn’t change. On February 3, 2024, deputies responded to another disturbance at Krusen’s residence, this time involving an alleged assault. Due to his history, a SWAT team, complete with an armored vehicle, was deployed to ensure a safe arrest.
Krusen ultimately surrendered without further incident, but the February incident led to additional pending charges of domestic abuse assault – injury or mental illness in Woodbury County District Court. While those charges remain unresolved, the federal case focused on the illegal possession of the firearm. Krusen pleaded guilty on February 13, 2024, to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user, admitting to violating federal law.
Judge Strand’s sentence includes a 3-year term of supervised release following Krusen’s imprisonment. Notably, there is no parole in the federal system, meaning Krusen will serve the entirety of his 34-month term. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild, with crucial investigative work conducted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN focuses on targeting the most dangerous offenders and fostering collaboration between law enforcement and community-based prevention programs. Krusen is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, awaiting transfer to a designated federal prison. Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, case file number 23-4069. Follow the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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