A Council Bluffs resident has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for gun-related charges. On April 15, 2025, Rafael Partida, aged 47, was sentenced for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Partida attempted to evade law enforcement while armed on May 19, 2024. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper tried to stop him on his motorcycle. The pursuit resulted in a crash, after which Partida fled on foot and discarded a backpack. Law enforcement apprehended him and discovered a loaded handgun and 23 additional rounds of ammunition in the backpack.
Following his prison term, Partida will undergo a three-year supervised release. Federal law dictates there is no parole system in place.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal, representing the Southern District of Iowa, made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa State Patrol led the investigation.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that collaborates across law enforcement levels and communities to curb violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, the program introduced a new crime reduction strategy emphasizing community trust and support for violence prevention as well as setting strategic priorities for enforcement and assessing outcomes. More details on Project Safe Neighborhoods are available on Justice.gov/PSN.
