Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Dubuque man, Kentrell Vantrice Powell, was sentenced to over twelve years in federal prison for attempting to discharge a firearm at a police officer. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2025, following Powell's guilty plea on November 20, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to the plea agreement and sentencing hearing details, the incident occurred on August 22, 2024. Dubuque police officers encountered Powell at a gas station where he was intoxicated and had shoplifted liquor bottles. Despite officers' commands to stop, Powell walked away and resisted arrest. During the search, he repeatedly reached into his back pockets despite warnings from officers. An officer heard a sound indicating the presence of a firearm and saw Powell holding a small pistol pointed at him. The pistol was later found to have misfired ammunition and an obliterated serial number.
United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Powell in Cedar Rapids to 150 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Until his transfer to federal prison, Powell remains in the custody of the United States Marshal.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist prosecuted the case with investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Dubuque Police Department.
