United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Hawarden, Iowa, man convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm was sentenced on March 25, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
Austin Joseph Gengler, age 28, was sentenced to 67 months in custody, concurrent to a state sentence he is currently serving, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gengler was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury on Oct. 10, 2018. He pled guilty on Dec. 10, 2018.
Law enforcement arrested Gengler on May 8, 2018, for absconding parole. His vehicle was searched and a.410 gauge shotgun was located. Gengler is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a convicted felon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Fugitive Task Force, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash prosecuted the case.
Gengler was returned to the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, South Dakota, to finish his state sentence. He will then be taken to a federal institution to serve his sentence in this matter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
