DAVENPORT, Iowa - Twelve people, all of whom are felons, are facing 28 criminal charges as part of federal drug and gun investigations announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. A Federal Grand Jury filed eleven Indictments and one Superseding Indictment earlier this month in United States District Court in Davenport, Iowa.
The investigations occurred in Scott and Des Moines Counties. The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
In addition to the above, 21 additional individuals have been federally charged with gun crimes out of the Davenport Divisional Office since Jan. 1, 2020. During the same time period, 15 individuals have been sentenced for gun-related crimes, resulting in sentences up to 240 months of imprisonment, with the average imprisonment sentence being 101 months or roughly 8.5 years.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Prosecuting violent crime-especially gun crime-in places like Davenport and Burlington is our office’s top priority," said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. “Our message is very simple. Put down the gun, or we will ask a judge to put you in federal prison."
These cases are part of Project Guardian (PG) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), programs bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The cases were investigated by the Davenport Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Bettendorf Police Department, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Several defendants have been arrested and are outlined below. The other cases remain sealed pending arrest.
DEFENDANT
Alexander Jamica Hubbard
Case Number 3:20-cr-48
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D) - Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) - Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 25 year mandatory minimum (enhanced due to prior conviction)
DEFENDANT
Jermaine Allen Ford
Case Number 3:20-cr-22
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(j) - Possession of a Stolen Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 21, U.S.C. § 844(a) - Possession of a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is 1 year in custody
Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) - Distribution of a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody
DEFENDANT
Adam Brent Branton
Case Number 3:20-cr-53
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) -Distribution of a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 10 year mandatory minimum
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
DEFENDANT
David Christopher Westby
Case Number 3:20-cr-59
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) - Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) - Possess a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 5 year mandatory minimum
DEFENDANT
Vernon Lee Bellamy
Case Number 3:20-cr-60
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 21, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) - Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is 20 years in custody
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
DEFENDANT
Darius Antwone Sims
Case Number 3:20-cr-61
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) - Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Maximum Penalty is life in custody; 10 year mandatory minimum
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
DEFENDANT
Nihjl Shaquielle Rahmhad Hoover
Case Number 3:20-cr-68
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm Maximum Penalty is 10 years in custody
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
