SIOUX CITY, IA – Victor Howard, 28, of Sioux City, is facing a potential 15-year stretch in federal prison after a jury found him guilty today of a brazen pattern of illegal gun purchases fueled by drug use and deceit. The verdict, reached after four hours of deliberation in U.S. District Court, caps a three-day trial exposing a dangerous disregard for the law.
The case unfolded after Howard himself admitted to opening fire on someone who approached his residence following a dispute. Howard chillingly told investigators he was waiting for the shooter, and unleashed multiple rounds as the individual neared. Crucially, he confessed to smoking a “blunt” while lying in wait, and further admitted to regular marijuana use and the illegal use of Xanax – all while stockpiling weapons.
A disturbing tally revealed that between November 2021 and September 2022, Howard purchased a staggering 25 firearms. These purchases weren’t made in a vacuum; many occurred after the initial shooting incident. Each time, Howard signed federal forms falsely certifying he was not an unlawful user of controlled substances, a blatant lie to circumvent the law.
“This isn’t just about a shooting,” a source close to the investigation told Grimy Times. “It’s about a man actively working to arm himself while impaired and deliberately misleading federal authorities. He created a clear and present danger to the community.” The combined efforts of the Sioux City Police Department, Sgt. Bluff Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) brought Howard’s scheme to light.
Judge Leonard T. Strand will set a sentencing date after a presentence report is completed. Howard was immediately taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and will remain jailed pending that date. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons is prosecuting the case.
Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-4005. For updates, follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on X @USAO_NDIA. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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