Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A convicted felon from Waterloo, Iowa, has been sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a handgun. Torion Tamaz Byrd, 25, was sentenced in Cedar Rapids following his conviction in a bench trial on November 1, 2024, for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case arose when Waterloo police officers stopped a car driven by Byrd and discovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in the glove box. Byrd's DNA was later found on three locations of the firearm. During the traffic stop, officers also arrested a passenger who was wanted for failing to appear in state court.
Judge Leonard T. Strand presided over Byrd's sentencing, imposing 37 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Byrd's case is linked to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through the collaboration of law enforcement and community efforts to increase public safety. The strategy focuses on community trust, support for prevention organizations, and strategic enforcement.
Currently, Byrd is in the custody of the United States Marshal and awaits transportation to a federal prison. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt, and the investigation was conducted by a Federal Task Force including the Waterloo Police Department, FBI, ATF, with assistance from the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
