It was a high-speed chase and a violent end when Daijon Stokes, 32, from Waterloo, Iowa, faced justice for his illegal possession of a firearm. The gritty details of his crime and the swift sentence that followed were laid bare in a federal court hearing.
The incident began on December 3, 2023, when officers with the Waterloo Police Department attempted to stop Stokes for a routine traffic violation. Stokes, however, made a dramatic escape in his vehicle, reaching speeds of nearly 90 mph through residential streets. His reckless flight ended when he collided with another car, which had a woman and two young children inside. Stokes fled on foot but was tackled by officers after a brief pursuit.
Upon searching the crashed vehicle, officers discovered a loaded handgun, marijuana, and other illegal drugs. The 32-year-old from Waterloo was later sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams to 104 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after his prison term, with no possibility of parole under the federal system.
The sentence comes as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun violence, ensuring safer communities for everyone. The program is rooted in core principles such as fostering trust in communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
Stokes, who was being held in U.S. Marshal’s custody until transport to a federal prison, will now serve his sentence under the watchful eye of the federal justice system. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by a Federal Task Force that included the Waterloo Police Department, FBI, ATF, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, and Cedar Falls Police Department.
For more information on the case file, which is numbered 24-cr-2012, visit the federal court’s electronic filing system. Stay updated with news from the United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Iowa on Twitter at @USAO_NDIA.”
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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