A twice-convicted felon who possessed a firearm and ammunition on the streets of Waterloo last Halloween evening was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum sentence possible for his crime.
Deshawn Brown, age 23, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 2, 2015, guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon.
At the guilty plea hearing, Brown admitted that he knowingly possessed a Sig Sauer pistol and.40 caliber ammunition on Halloween in 2014. Defendant learned that an associate’s residence was subjected to a drive-by shooting. In response, Brown went to a local store, purchased ammunition, and then fired several shots near the 1200 block of Willow Street in retaliation for the prior shooting. When police attempted to stop Brown’s car, he failed to stop and fled through a residential neighborhood. Brown only stopped because his car crashed into a garage. At the plea hearing, he also admitted to prior felony convictions in state court for possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.
Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade to 120 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Williams and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information available: https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR15-2001.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
