Willie Johnson, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Iowa 2017

A 46-year-old Waterloo man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm after breaking into a semi-truck and stealing the driver’s gun during a domestic dispute.

Willie Johnson, a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter, was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand on yesterday.

Johnson, 46, of Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 29, 2017, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm, despite having previous convictions for assault by display of a weapon, carrying weapons, and possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver.

According to evidence presented at sentencing, Johnson obtained the firearm after breaking the windows of a semi-truck during a domestic dispute and stealing the driver’s firearm when she fled to get help. He was apprehended later that day with the firearm in his possession.

Johnson was also found to have threatened the driver and her family members on multiple occasions in an attempt to dissuade her from testifying about his theft of the firearm.

Johnson was sentenced to a special assessment of $100 and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. He is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.

“Fighting violent crime is one of the highest priorities of this office,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to send armed offenders to prison and make our communities safer.”

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